“Temples Will Not Be Disturbed”: CMRL & TN Govt Assure Madras HC, Metro Route Re-Aligned At Virugambakkam

On 4 January 2023, the Tamil Nadu Government and the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) assured the Madras High Court that the historic Kaliamman Temple and Sundara Varadaraja Perumal temple structures in Virugambakkam, Chennai will not be affected in the course of construction of the metro.

Earlier on 19 December 2022, the Chennai Corporation issued a demolition notice for the Sri Kaliamman Temple in Virugambakkam. The Assistant Executive Engineer of the Greater Chennai Corporation had written to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chennai, seeking protection for the removal of encroachments. This notice came despite assurances to the court that monuments and temple structure would not be used for the metro rail project.

The Madras High Court had previously issued an order on November 5, 2020, while hearing a batch of petitions against the encroachment of temple land, stating that the temple land should not be used for other purposes. The court observed that temples in Tamil Nadu are not only a source of identification of the ancient culture but also a testimony to the pride and knowledge of talent in the fields of arts, science, and sculpture. The Madras High Court also rebuked the HR&CE Department, which is the custodian of temple properties, for failing to protect the temple’s interests.

As the demolition notice came to light, Aalayam Kaapom, an outfit of temple activists and other Hindu outfits like Hindu Munnani protested against the demolition of the temple structure. Temple activists alleged that the GCC, which attempted to take over the temple for Metro work, found a way to demolish the temple by labeling it as an encroachment. The issue was reported by The Commune on 21 December 2022.

With the opposition to demolition gaining momentum, the CMRL has reportedly realigned the metro rail route in Virugambakkam so as to not disturb the temple structures.

Temple activist Gouthaman welcomed the move saying that this positive development came as a result of 3 Public Interest Litigations filed at the court. He added that all temples located on government poromboke land (waste lands) stands at the risk of annhilation if the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department do not take any measures.

History Of The Dispute

Arulmigu Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple said to be at least 800 years old temple is located in the Virugambakkam suburb of Chennai. The Sunguvar Brahmin community had donated lands in the region for the maintenance of the temple.

As per 1910 records, these lands were shown being under the Taluk Board which over a period of time were encroached on by land sharks. The temple pond however existed which was also gobbled up by encroachments. The erstwhile temple pond is now a garbage dump.

A Muslim party had tried to grab a portion of this land belonging to the temple to build a mosque. The local mosque committee, which planned to build a mosque registered three acres of the illegally occupied land in its name with the help of government officials.

After a long drawn court struggle, the Chennai collector rejected Muslim party’s claims and restored the lands to the Taluk Board. Since these lands are in the name of the Taluk Board, efforts are underway to reclaim the land and the temple pond in the temple’s name.

Adjacent to the Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a small Kaliamman temple which also has a pond that currently has been encroached and efforts to reclaim this pond are also under way.

Controversy erupted, when the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) attempted to take over the temple and its pond for Metro work in December 2020. According to reports, the Metro work was originally planned on private lands near the temple, but the GCC changed its mind and decided to lay metro lanes through the temple.

In June 2022, the Madras High Court dismissed a writ petition filed against the takeover of the lands of Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple and Thirukkachi Nambigal Temple in Poonnamalle, Chennai.

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