A petition has been filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court challenging the lifting of a ban on registering temple lands in Karur district.
According to the plea, 3,084.95 acres belonging to four temples—Kalyana Pasupatheeswarar Temple (Karur), Balasubramaniya Swamy Temple (Pugazhimali), Raveeswarar Temple (Kuppuchipalayam) and Vikrutheeswarar Temple (Venchamangoodalur)—are spread across 15 villages. The lands were said to have been issued ryotwari pattas in the names of 3,390 individuals.
The petitioner, Salem-based Radhakrishnan, told the court that a ban had earlier been imposed on registering these lands, but the district Collector issued an order on July 9 lifting the restriction. He alleged that officials enabled registrations without prior approval from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Commissioner and the government.
He claimed the lands were valued at about Rs 25,000 crore and argued that the ban was removed to benefit encroachers, calling the decision arbitrary. He sought cancellation of the Collector’s order and requested urgent hearing.
The bench comprising Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel said the Registration Department must assign a principal number to the petition, after which it would be heard when it comes up in the cause list.
