The Madras High Court has reaffirmed that temple lands cannot be encroached upon, directing the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to proceed with the eviction of squatters from the land belonging to the Annamalainathar Temple in Kadayanallur, near Tenkasi.
The case originated after Uduman Mohideen of Tenkasi filed a petition challenging the eviction drive initiated by the Endowments Department. The department had taken action to remove encroachers from the temple land, citing past legal rulings that deemed the occupation unlawful.
According to the petition filed by the Endowments Department, the temple administration had auctioned the land in 1995. However, in 1997, the Endowments Commissioner canceled the sale, stating that it was conducted arbitrarily without the department’s approval. The Tenkasi District Court had also ruled that no one could claim ownership of the disputed land.
In an effort to regulate the encroachment, the Endowments Department had ordered that 81 squatters, who had been residing on the land for over 20 years, should pay rent. However, several occupants objected, prompting the department to seek police protection to enforce the eviction.
During the hearing, a bench comprising Justices R. Suresh Kumar and Maria Claude noted that 58 squatters had accepted the department’s notices, while 23 remained defiant. The judges reiterated that temple lands could not be unlawfully occupied and instructed the department to issue notices again, collect rent from occupants, and take necessary action against those who refuse to comply.
The court further directed the police to provide security to prevent any law-and-order issues during the eviction process. It also instructed the Endowments Department to immediately remove occupants who fail to pay the mandated rent. The case has been adjourned to April 21 for further proceedings.
This ruling aligns with previous High Court directives emphasizing the recovery of temple lands and preventing unauthorized occupation.
(With inputs from Indian Express Tamil)
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