Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: The Hindu
Date: November 3, 2010
URL: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article865491.ece
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.
In the order, the Bench said it was alleged
that after removal of the temples, the Corporation had put up its own fish
stalls and hoardings in the said place.
