Chennai:
Wondering how encroachments were allowed in Thiruvannamalai Hill, home to a famous Lord Shiva temple, Madras High Court today directed the government to remove all such unauthorised constructions.
Passing orders on a petition by CM Sivababu, District President of the Hindu Makkal Katchi, a bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam said it was high time that government officers took immediate steps for the removal of encroachments, including a lodging house 'Bala Dhandayudhabani Thirukoyil,'set up by Vedha Viththu alias Krishnan alias Kanagaraj.
'We fail to understand as to why the officers of the respondents (government) posted at different places allowed the encroachers to grab land in the name of construction of temple, when there was a clear direction by the Supreme Court not to allow such constructions and to demolish all religious structures standing on government lands or public roads,' the Judges said.
The Bench directed the government to take appropriate action against the officials concerned if they failed to discharge their duty.
The petitioner claimed that the Tiruvannamalai Hill was no exception to illegal encroachments and land grabbings.
Admitting that Viththu had encroached on a portion of the hill, Tiruvannamalai District Collector, in a counter affidavit, said he had been advised not to carry on any further construction. The man had constructed a small temple and was residing in a portion of it.
Disposing of the petition, the Bench said it was evidently clear that the officials had allowed the construction. Though they were duty bound to stop the work and remove it, till date nothing had been done, the judges said.