Madras High Court addresses temple land encroachment and compensation claims

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has taken action regarding two separate legal matters involving temple administration in Tamil Nadu.

In a contempt petition concerning the Arulmigu Kalyana Pasupatheeswarar temple in Karur, the court impleaded eight senior government officials. This includes the Secretaries to the Revenue and Home Departments, as well as the HR&CE Commissioner. The action follows a failure to act on a 2022 directive to address alleged encroachments on temple properties. The court has ordered the HR&CE Commissioner to appear on November 5 and submit a status report.

In a separate matter, the court is reviewing a petition seeking Rs 50 lakh in compensation following the death of a woman at the Samayapuram Mariamman temple in Tiruchy. The petitioner, a daily wage worker, alleges that a portion of the temple roof collapsed in March, causing his wife's death due to official negligence. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy has requested the state government to provide a response, with the case adjourned to November 10.