200 temples targeted in eviction drive, alleges Hindu Munnani's PIL in Madras HC

Chennai, Feb 9 (IANS) The Hindu Munnani has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Madras High Court stating that the government of Tamil Nadu was deliberately targeting temples during the encroachments eviction drives.

T. Elango, spokesperson of the Hindu Munnani, in the PIL alleged that about 200 temples were demolished by the authorities in recent months while evicting encroachments under the National Disaster Management Act.

He cited certain temples that were evicted and sought for a scheme for regularisation or relocation of religious structures built on 'Poramboke' land or land without proper title deeds.

The petitioner alleged that the demolition of temples was a pure act of "discrimination" against the Hindus and the Hindu temples and that the entire state machinery was "bent" upon this.

Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Munishwar Nath Bhandari, and Justice Bharath Chakravarthy directed the petitioner to file a detailed affidavit on the evictions.

Additional Advocate General(AAG) of Tamil Nadu government, J. Ravindran made it clear that the government did not show any discrimination and that the principle of unity in diversity was being followed in the state.

The AAG also blamed certain people for trying to portray "pseudo picture" against the Tamil Nadu government that it was against the Hindus. He also charged that certain IT cells were employed for the purpose and said that the court "cannot be used for furthering this purpose".