Tamil Nadu: Invoke Goondas Act against temple land encroachers, directs Madras HC – Times of India

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has directed the director general of police (DGP) to invoke action under the Goondas Act in ‘extreme’ cases of encroachment/illegal grabbing of temple properties in Tamil Nadu.
Justice S M Subramaniam has also directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department to form a ‘special cell’ consisting of a team of officials with integrity for monitoring actions initiated for retrieval of temple properties, funds and jewellery.
The court further directed the state to effect publication in respect of all the temples across the state widely in newspapers, calling upon the encroachers / illegal occupants to surrender the possession of all such properties voluntarily before the competent authorities within a stipulated period.
“Failing which, stern actions are directed to be initiated against all such encroachers/ illegal occupants under relevant provisions of law,” the judge said.
The court passed the orders on a plea moved by N C Sridhar, head trustee of Sri Audikesava Perumal Peyalwar Devasthanam temple, Mylapore challenging his suspension from the trust through an order dated August 6 issued by HR and CE.
Opposing the plea, the department contended that the petitioner was suspended only to enable a transparent inquiry into the allegations of irregularities in the management of the temple and its properties.
Pointing out that the state has initiated action against all such complaints of irregularities, advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram submitted that ‘Identifying and Scrutinizing Committees’ have been constituted for 39,743 religious institutions and the said committees have so far identified properties of 17,185 religious institutions covering an extent about 1,28,563 acres of lands.
“The committees have scrutinised 15,256 properties and have identified 20,776 encroachments. Already actions have been initiated against 8,188 encroachers covering an extent of 4,118 acres of land. Actions are about to be taken against 10,930 encroachers covering an extent of 3,526 acres of lands,” a report filed by the AG said.
Recording the submissions, the court quashed the suspension order issued against the petitioner but refused to interfere in the charge memo issued against him.
This apart, the court directed the department to appoint an inquiry officer, not below the rank of joint commissioner of HR and CE immediately to conduct an inquiry.
All the trustees of the temple have also been directed to cooperate with the authorities for the completion of the inquiry expeditiously.