In a development highlighting administrative inaction over temple land encroachment, the Madras High Court has issued contempt notices to five senior IAS officers and two officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) Department for failing to comply with a 2024 court order. The directive required state authorities to relocate the St. Joseph Matriculation Higher Secondary School, which has been operating on temple land in Cuddalore district for over five years.
A division bench comprising Justice K.R. Sriram and Justice Sunder Mohan issued the notices in response to a contempt petition filed by BJP functionary S. Vinoth Raghavendran, who serves as the State Secretary of the party’s Spiritual and Temple Development Wing.
The court has summoned the following officials to appear in person on July 10:
P. Amudha, Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department
S. Madhumathi, Secretary, School Education Department
Dr. B. Chandramohan, Secretary, Tourism, Culture, HR & CE Department
P.N. Sridhar, Commissioner, HR&CE Department
Sibi Adithia Senthilkumar, District Collector, Cuddalore
Two unnamed Joint Commissioners from the HR&CE Department
The petitioner, Raghavendran, informed the court that the school in question is functioning on land legally owned by the Devanathaswamy Temple of Thiruvanthapuram. Despite multiple representations and a clear directive from the High Court issued in April 2024, the encroachment remains unresolved, he said.
The 2024 judgment granted the State a six-month extension to find an alternate plot near the same town to avoid inconvenience to the students. This order followed a previous writ petition by the school authorities, during which the court allowed time to identify and allot a different parcel of land to facilitate relocation.
However, the latest petition points out that even after the six-month grace period, the State has not taken any concrete steps to either relocate the school or vacate it from temple property. The land, as asserted by the petitioner, is meant exclusively for religious use and must be safeguarded as part of Hindu temple heritage.
The court expressed its displeasure at the bureaucratic delay, especially considering that the issue had been under consideration for over five years. The decision to issue contempt notices and seek personal appearance signals the court’s intent to enforce accountability in the matter.
The next hearing, scheduled for July 10, is expected to be crucial in determining whether the government officers face further legal consequences for contempt of court and dereliction of duty in protecting temple land.
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