Chennai : In a welcome move, the Madras High Court has sought complete details of temples and other religious structures constructed on encroached government properties and lands, such as roads, pavements and water bodies.
Chennai : In a welcome move, the Madras High Court has sought complete details of temples and other religious structures constructed on encroached government properties and lands, such as roads, pavements and water bodies.
The Municipal Administration Secretary in his submission in the Court has stated that an official letter has been sent to all the local bodies to furnish details on the status of encroachment by places of worship, cutting across all religions.
“It would take at least four weeks to compile the data from 125 municipalities, 12 Corporations and 528 town panchayats," said the Municipal Administration Secretary in Court.
Justice S M Subramaniam who accepted the submission has given a month’s time to gather details. The judge had earlier sought the details while hearing a PIL which sought to remove the Ganesh temple built on the RDO's office campus in Coimbatore.
“Even if it is a deity which committed an act of encroachment, it is to be dealt in accordance with the law of the land, " noted the Judge.
The Municipal Administration Secretary in his submission in the Court has stated that an official letter has been sent to all the local bodies to furnish details on the status of encroachment by places of worship, cutting across all religions.
“It would take at least four weeks to compile the data from 125 municipalities, 12 Corporations and 528 town panchayats," said the Municipal Administration Secretary in Court.
Justice S M Subramaniam who accepted the submission has given a month’s time to gather details. The judge had earlier sought the details while hearing a PIL which sought to remove the Ganesh temple built on the RDO's office campus in Coimbatore.
“Even if it is a deity which committed an act of encroachment, it is to be dealt in accordance with the law of the land, " noted the Judge.