CHENNAI: Economic progress of the state, though important, cannot be at the cost of properties of god (temples), the Madras high court said.
Justice R Suresh Kumar made the observation while staying a Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department order leasing out 400sqft of a prime land belonging to Arulmighu Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple on East Coast Road (ECR) in Thiruvidanthai to a private individual.
The land was given on lease for three years to Mermaid Properties which wanted access to the property located behind the temple land, despite objections raised by the temple.
“Even an inch of land of the temple need not be given to the petitioner by way of lease. The reason being that, if at all the petitioner wants the land for the purpose of approach road towards ECR since a big development has been made in the land belonging to the petitioner, such kind of approach is not a temporary phenomenon as it can be a permanent affair,” the HC said.
Therefore, if at all lease is granted for three years, the petitioner would definitely require the lease to be extended for a longer period as it can be a perennial requirement on the part of the petitioner, it added. The HC also made it clear that the reason the land was kept vacant for decades does not mean it could not be made use for any useful purpose in future.