N.BARANITHARAN Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, PUDUKOTTAI, PUDUKOTTAI DISTRICT.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner claims to be a temple priest in Arulmigu Sri Murugan Temple, Karambakudi, Pudukottai District for the past 22 years. The petitioner would further aver that the said temple came into put in, in the year 1978 and it is in existence for the past 42 years and consecration was also performed in the year 1986 and construction in the form of hall (Mandapam) was also constructed in the year 1996.

(2.) The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that despite the fact that the temple is in existence for the past 42 years, under the pretext of removing the encroachment in a portion of the State Highway, initially the fourth respondent has issued a notice dated 24.02.2020. In response to the same, the petitioner also submitted a representation, dated 27.02.2020 to the first respondent, who in turn vide communication dated 18.06.2020 in O.Mu. 4822/2020/E1 had requested the second respondent to do the needful.

(3.) The primordial grievance expressed by the learned counsel for the writ petitioner is that despite submission of the representation dated 27.02.2020, the same has not been considered, whereas the third respondent has now issued a notice dated 09.09.2020, calling upon the petitioner to cause removal of the encroachment on or before 16.09.2020, failing which, further action will be taken to remove the encroachment and hence, prays for appropriate orders.