Madras HC asks police to invoke Goondas Act to free Temple properties from encroachers

On Wednesday, The Madras High Court directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to challenge a public notification calling upon encroachers of temple properties unfold throughout the state to voluntarily give up the lands inside a given timeframe failing which legal proceedings and detention can be initiated in opposition to them, below the Goondas Act. The courtroom additionally ordered structure of a particular cell to retrieve the encroached temple properties.(PC: Indian Express)On a plea moved by the pinnacle trustee of Sri Audikesava Perumal Peyalvar Devasthanam temple, N C Sridhar, the courtroom handed the orders. His plea was earlier suspended solely to allow a clear inquiry into the allegations of irregularities within the administration of the temple and its properties. The state has additional initiated motion in opposition to all such complaints of irregularities.“The committees have scrutinised 15,256 properties and have identified 20,776 encroachments. Already actions have been initiated against 8,188 encroachers covering an extent of 4,118 acres of land. Actions are about to be taken against 10,930 encroachers covering an extent of 3,526 acres of lands.” a report filed by the Advocate General mentioned.According to the decide, fraudulent, unlawful encroachment of temple properties and mishandling of temple funds are offences that should be registered in opposition to the offenders, following prosecution by the state. “Temple properties are looted by greedy men and few professional criminals or land grabbers. Active or passive contribution/collusion by HR&CE Department officials cannot be overruled,” The Judge added.Also learn: 748 acres of temple land data mysteriously disappeared in Andhra Pradesh below Chandrababu Naidu’s authorities“These lapses, negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of such public officials are also to be viewed seriously and all appropriate actions in this regard are highly warranted… Instances are many where persons entrusted with the duty of managing and safeguarding the properties of temples, deities and Devaswom Boards have usurped and misappropriated such properties by setting up false claims of ownership or tenancy, or adverse possession. Such acts of ‘fences eating the crops’ should also be dealt with sternly,” the courtroom said.Moreover, the decide directed the federal government to represent a particular cell consisting of a crew of officers with ‘integrity and devotion’ for the obligation of monitoring the actions initiated for the retrieval of temple properties, funds, jewelry and many others. The cell within the Headquarters would have separate telephones and cell numbers and so they should be displayed in all of the shrines and within the workplaces of the HR&CE division to report and facilitate most people/devotees to register their complaints.Also learn: The subsequent large transfer of Yogi goes to be in opposition to encroachment within the identify of faithThe decide additionally added that the DGP is meant to supply all essential safety to the federal government officers and people engaged by the HR&CE division to carry out the work, as and when required.The Madras High Court’s outstanding step to impose the Goonda Act to free temple properties from encroachers is nicely appreciated and acknowledged. Fraudulent and unlawful encroachment and mishandling funds is a punishable offence and should be tackled critically to keep away from comparable offences sooner or later.