CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has dismissed the petitions seeking the removal of the gasifier crematorium constructed by the Isha Foundation.
Residents including ST Sivagnanam from the same area had filed a case in the Madras High Court seeking to cancel the permission granted by the village panchayat for the construction of the Kalabhairavar gasifier crematorium by the Isha Foundation at Ikkarai Boluvampatti in Coimbatore district, and also sought the removal of the crematorium.
After hearing the case, the bench comprising Chief Justice MM Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan observed that the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayats (Provision of burial and burning ground) Rules do not prohibit granting a licence to establish a cremation ground within 90 metres of a residential area or a drinking water source. The rules only stipulate that obtaining a licence from the village panchayat is a prerequisite.
Stating that the suitability and administrative considerations of local bodies are matters with which the Court would not interfere, and that the addition of a crematorium particularly a gasifier crematorium would only benefit the community and could not be said to be against its interests, the judges dismissed the petitions.