The Madras High Court in its single judge bench consisting of Justice R Mahadevan ordered the HR & CE, the authority that is the custodian of temple properties to ensure that such property should not be alienated or leased or encumbered illegally and against the interests of such temples and shall only be used for temple related purposes.
The court opined that no trustee/ private individual has right over the disputed property possessed by the temple. The temple is also entitled to right of possession and enjoyment of its land, subject to terms laid down by the HR & CE Department. The court issues these instructions in the case of S.Sridhar vs. State of Tamil Nadu [Writ Petition No.17248 of 2013.
