Government told to restore usurped temple land

The first bench comprising acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice R Mahadevan while disposing a PIL moved by the International Sri Vaishnava Dharma Samrakshana Society, direct

ed the government to resolve the issue within three months. 

The petitioner, Swami Govindaramanujadasa, had contended that in 1922, Chinnanna Naidu, a resident of Sowripalayam, donated 14.31 acres of land for setting up a flower garden called ‘Nandavana Pushpa Kaingariyam.’ “But the PSG Charitable Trust, which is managing the temple, grabbed the land by changing patta, chitta and adangal illegally, and had sold them to 35 third parties during 1996-2011 for over Rs 10 crore,” the petitioner alleged. 

He had also submitted that when the illegality was brought to the notice of the revenue authorities, the Trust submitted that a grave mistake had occurred. Also, on offering a written apology, the trustees had also given an undertaking before the DRO of surrendering the lands back. But nothing had transpired and a representation made to the Collector on August 25, 2014 had failed to evoke any response. He sought the court to pass a  direction to help restore the  temple land.