Chennai: Both Jesus and Lord Ayappa and Lord Ganesha come and ask us to build temples, but have become common among all religions to violate public land and pedestrian space to build temples, Madras HC said on Thursday.
“Are they (gods) come knocking on our door to build a temple that penetrated public land?” The justice division bench N Kirubakan and Justice T V Thamilseli asked.
The court made observations while hearing the request to move by G Devarajan, a resident of Sandbus, alleged that the temple had been built illegally on pedestrian plates and public roads in Otteria.
Recognizing the request, the bench directed the Greater Chennai Corporation to examine and ensure the extent of encroachment by the structure.
The corporation has also been directed to submit reports of actions taken to eliminate encroachment.
According to the applicant, a 30-foot public road on Jalan Chellappa in Otteria has been interrupted on both sides by building three temples illegally – Shri Sithi Vinayagar Temple, Manimudi Maamari Aalayam, and Shri Ayyappan Sannithanam.
Because adding only 14 foot roads can be accessed by the public, he said.
It hooded the flow of free traffic on busy roads and emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire services and other rescue vehicles could not pass the road during the emergency situation, he added.
Despite recurring representation, the corporation failed to take any action to eliminate illegality.
It seems they have no intention of taking any steps to eliminate any encroachment from the road or road margins, he said.
The applicant added that this is a situation regardless of the fact that the corporation has formed a special task force to eliminate such encroachment and the monitoring committee has also been set to monitor the same thing.
The main purpose of this style is to identify and eliminate encroachment on public roads, roads, and pedestrian platforms, he added.