HR and CE Department cleared encroachments from 79 cents of land worth over Rs 100 crore belonging to Varasidhi Vinayagar Temple in Ukkadam, Coimbatore. The land, belonging to a sub-temple of the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, had around 22 structures, including residential and commercial units. The Joint Commissioner issued the removal order in 2015, followed by notices to occupants. After appeals to the JC court, then to the Secretary of HR and CE Department, and finally to the Madras High Court, all were rejected, with the HC dismissing the case on November 27, 2025.
Those living on the land initially protested and sought time to vacate, but eviction was carried out with police deployed at the site. AIADMK MLA Amman K Arjunan visited the location and said he would assist affected families in securing alternative housing. N Prakash, whose house was demolished, said they learned a few days earlier that eviction was likely and asked for time, but the process went ahead, forcing them to move to relatives’ houses immediately.
This recovery is part of a larger statewide effort to reclaim temple lands. Recently, the Madras High Court summoned HR and CE officers for failing to remove encroachments at Arulmigu Balasubramaniyaswamy Temple in Karur, where 507.88 acres of temple land remained under illegal occupation by government officials, industrialists, and influential individuals. The court noted that encroachments occurred with the connivance of revenue officials and temple trustees, while the HR and CE Department, the statutory guardian of temple properties, failed to discharge its duties.
When temple lands worth hundreds of crores are occupied illegally for decades, it is not just encroachment. It is a systematic loot of sacred assets meant for the deity and devotees. Ten years of litigation to recover 79 cents shows the scale of resistance. Temple land recovery must be swift, uncompromising, and protected by law. No appeals. No delays. Only justice.
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