Madras high court observed while dismissing a plea against the reconstruction of a Christian prayer hall near a Hindu temple in Sivaganga district.
The petitioner stated that the collector ought to have afforded an opportunity to the local residents and others who may be affected by the proposed construction. The temple is situated within a distance of about 45m from the church building and that permitting a Christian prayer hall in such close proximity would result in law and order issues in the locality.
However, the field inspection report specifically records that the distance between the two religious institutions is about 45m and that the local residents, who were enquired of during inspection, stated that worship had been taking place in the prayer hall for about 25 years and that they had no objection to its continuance.
“The apprehension expressed by the petitioner regarding a possible law and order problem, by itself, cannot be a ground to interfere with an administrative order, particularly when the competent authority has considered the relevant materials and the field inspection report does not disclose any such existing dispute or objection from the local residents,” the judges observed. A division bench of Justice M Dhandapani and Justice N Dilip Kumar observed that the principal objection of the petitioner is that the collector ought not to have granted permission without taking into consideration the apprehended law and order issues.