CHENNAI: Madras high court has allowed acquisition of two temple land plots for metro rail work, saying god will forgive the takeover if the development benefits devotees as well.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed that even land belonging to religious institutions is not exempt from acquisition for public projects. The issue pertains to land of Rathina Vinayagar Temple and Durgai Amman Temple. A PIL was filed opposing the acquisition.
On its part, CMRL informed the court it planned to acquire land on a site belonging to United India Insurance on Anna Salai instead of the temple land. Aggrieved, the insurance company moved the court, claiming it spent ₹250 crore on developing its building after it received an NOC from CMRL.
Recording the submission, the court said CMRL's action amounted to a gross violation of principles of natural justice on all levels since it undertook to acquire the company's land without first informing it. "CMRL has no right to resort to such a move, more so when it earlier gave NOC to the insurance company to set up its head office in the area," the judge said.
The court then quashed the acquisition notice issued by CMRL against the insurance company.
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