Court Orders Status Quo On Setting Up College On Temple Land In Tamil Nadu

The Madras High Court noted that in a recent order, a bench had made it clear that even for establishment of colleges through the HR&CE department, the temple land shall not be exploited.

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department to maintain status quo in respect of establishing a college on the land belonging to Athanur Amman Temple in Tiruchengode taluk in Namakkal district.

Justice R Suresh Kumar granted the injunction while passing interim orders on a writ petition from Tamilarasi Deivasigamani, recently and posted the matter for further hearing on January 4.

The petition opposed construction of the college on the temple land.

The judge noted that a division bench of this Court, in a recent order, having considered these kind of proposals by the State government/HR&CE department to establish Arts and Science Colleges in the needy places, had made it clear that even for establishment of colleges through the HR&CE department, the temple land shall not be exploited.