Coimbatore College accused of occupying temple land

The HinduA. Radhakrishnan (second right) of Thiruthondargal Sabai, Tamil Nadu, involved in a heated argument with the management of Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology in front of the institution on Friday. Photo: M. Periasamy

Land was properly bought through the court, says college vice-chairman

The Thiruthondargal Sabai, Tamil Nadu, an organisation involved in reclaiming encroached temple lands, has claimed that a major portion of land on which the Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology is established belonged to two renowned temples in Tamil Nadu.

The college was founded by former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy in 2006. The issue has been raised by founder and president of Thiruthondargal Sabai A. Radhakrishnan.

He claimed that he had verified revenue records of the land. It was also done at the site here on Friday, along with officials from Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) and Revenue departments, amid police security.

The verification was done on the basis of a petition submitted by the Sabai to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Tamil Nadu a couple of days ago from whom it was directed to the Commissioner of HR&CE Department.

The institution has been established on 25 acres at Pallapalayam near Kannampalayam in the district. A total of 9.36 acres is claimed to be dedicated to the ‘Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswar Temple’ and ‘Chidambaram Natarajar Temple’ by owner of the land V. Karupagounder of Kannampalayam, way back in 1898.

“According to Mr. Karupagounder’s will, the outcome of the land has to be used for Annadhanam at Arunachaleswar Temple and to conduct Vilva Pooja at the Natarajar Temple. But the land has been illegally sold by purposely hiding original records of the land dating back to 1898,” Mr. Radhakrishnan alleged.

He added that land dedicated to temples could be used for other purposes through the court by including the HR&CE Commissioner and the administration of the temple concerned.

“But the sale deed was executed illegally without including those two. We will take necessary steps to recover the land legally by filing a land grab case against the institution,” he said.

According to him, the illegal sale was executed with the help of Government officials of various departments.

“We will also make an appeal to the Chief Minister to initiate legal action against the faulty officials too,” he added.

Vice-chairman of the college M. Indu denied the charges and claimed that the piece of land on which the institution was located was properly bought through the court and after depositing money as a fixed deposit in the bank to use interest generated from it to carry out spiritual works at the above said temples.

“We purchased the land from a third party who had bought it from the descendants of Mr. Karupagounder,” she said.

She added that the issue was raised by vested interests as their institution was named after former Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi.

“We will fight the issue legally and also initiate legal action against those who try to tarnish its image,” Ms. Indu added.

Managing trustee of Vijayalakshmi Palanisamy Trust (that runs the college) Vidya Gokul lodged a police complaint against the officials who came to the place, stating that they came to their college without prior intimation.

“But it was not accepted by the Sulur Police. We have emailed a copy of the complaint to the Superintendent of Police (Coimbatore District) and the District Collector,” Ms. Indu said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/kalaignar-karunanidhi-institue-of-technology-accused-of-occupying-temple-land/article6298437.ece