CHENNAI: The first bench of Madras High Court on Monday asked the state government how it can take the temple land for constructing Kallakurichi Collectorate for an indefinite lease period without mentioning any lease expiry date.

Heading the bench along with Justice D Krishnakumar, Acting Chief Justice T Raja asked the question on hearing a petition filed by Rangarajan Narasimhan, a Sri Rangam-based activist.

The petitioner pleaded for quashing the Government Order passed on November 28, 2021, for acquiring 34 acres of land of Arulmigu Arthanareeswarar Temple in Veeracholapuram in Kallakurichi for constructing the district collectorate.

According to the petitioner, the land was taken without mentioning the lease period and duration of the lease, which is against the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.

Recording the submissions, the judges questioned the government on how it acquired the temple land for erecting the collectorate without even mentioning the expiry date for the lease. The bench further passed the direction to file a response to the court’s question within a week.

It could be noted that the HC already granted an interim injunction restraining the construction works for the collectorate building despite allowing the land acquisition process.