The Hindu 04.11.2010
Court directive to Chennai Corporation
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Chennai Corporation to remove the fish stalls and hoardings at a place on First Avenue, Sastri Nagar here, by November 7, if the allegation in a petition is correct.
The First Bench consisting of Chief Justice M. Y. Eqbal and Justice T. S. Sivagnanam passed the order on a petition by one Radha Rajan of Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar. It posted the matter for November 8.
The petitioner sought to restrain the Chennai Corporation from demolishing the Srinivasaperumal Temple on First Avenue, Sastri Nagar. She contended that the civic body was indulging in indiscriminate and arbitrary demolition of temples. It targeted only Hindu places of worship. Earlier, there were three temples — Chelliamman Temple, Pillaiyar Temple and Srinivasaperumal Temple — on the street for a long time. Without any notice, the civic body demolished the first two temples on May 25 this year on the ground of restoring the footpath.
The corporation put up fish stalls in that place. On October 15, it attempted to demolish the Srinivasaperumal Temple. Following resistance from the petitioner and others, the corporation gave up the idea temporarily. It was planning to demolish the temple.
Hence, the present petition.
