Madras HC Summons HR&CE Commissioner Over Temple Land Recovery Delays
The Madras High Court has summoned four officials, including the Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, to appear on January 12. This directive arises from a contempt of court case linked to delays in recovering temple lands.
Temple Land Recovery Case
The case specifically involves the Chinna Kesava Perumal Temple, located in Perambattu village, Tirupattur district. A petition was submitted to the High Court advocating for the retrieval of land owned by the temple. During a hearing in September 2023, the court instructed the HR&CE Department to initiate steps for reclaiming all temple properties within a six-month timeline.
Contempt Petition Filed
S. Natarajan filed a contempt petition against several officials due to the perceived failure to comply with the court’s order. The officials named include:
- HR&CE Commissioner
- Joint Commissioner of Vellore
- HR&CE Inspector in Tirupattur
In response to the contempt petition, a division bench featuring Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan has mandated that these officials appear in court on January 12. They are required to provide explanations for the lack of action regarding the recovery of the temple lands.
Involvement of Local Officials
Additionally, the bench called upon the tahsildar of Tirupattur to explain why there has been a delay of over a year in transferring the patta (land title) to the temple’s name. This delay has contributed significantly to the ongoing difficulties faced by the temple in reclaiming its properties.
The next court proceedings are scheduled for January 12, where officials will need to clarify the reasons for their inaction in this critical matter. The court’s decision underlines the importance of timely action in the recovery of temple lands and adherence to judicial directives.
