Shivani Gadhavi
Published On: December 25, 2021 at 15:59 IST
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) of Tamil Nadu was directed by the Madras High Court to maintain a status quo regarding the formation and establishment of a college on the land belonging to the Athanur Amman Temple in Tiruchengode Taluk of Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.
The Injunction regarding the status quo direction was passed by the Madras High Court Judge- Justice R Suresh Kumar. The interim orders, were issued in regards with a Writ Petition filed by one Tamilarasi Deivasigamani.
Justice R Suresh Kumar observed that a Division Bench of the Madras High Court had made an observation pertaining to proposals for formation of colleges, made by the Tamil Nadu State Government and the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE), it explained that establishment of colleges on temple premises should not lead to exploitation of the temple land.
In the observation made by the Division Bench, it was held that colleges which have already been established by the HR&CE, were subject to the decision taken by the Bench itself. For the current case, the establishment of a college on the land of Amman Temple depends upon the response which the HR&CE and the Temple will give in regards to the Writ Petition.
Justice R Suresh Kumar stated, “In that view of the matter and based on the prima facie case, this Court feels that, while granting time to the Respondents to file their written Response/Counter Affidavit, there shall be an order of status quo as of today in respect of the temple land of 14.59 acres in Chittlandur village, until further Orders.”