Chennai: The Madras High Court has issued an interim injunction restraining the construction of a church near a century-old Mariamman Temple in Coimbatore, citing concerns over public order and religious harmony.
A Division Bench comprising Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan passed the order while hearing a petition challenging permissions granted for the proposed church construction in Kalapatti. The court observed that the temple has existed for more than 100 years and noted strong local opposition to the project.
The judges stated that religious harmony must be preserved in a secular and pluralistic society. They observed that when a large church is proposed in close proximity to an existing temple, mala fide intentions cannot be ruled out. The court also noted concerns raised by the petitioner regarding possible religious conversion activities, though no finding on such allegations was recorded.
According to the case records, permission for the church was granted by the Coimbatore Collector in 2010. Temple worshippers subsequently filed a civil suit in 2011 challenging the proposal. While the suit remained pending, authorities issued orders in 2023 granting police protection for the construction work. A stop-work order followed after law and order concerns emerged.
The bench pointed out that revenue records classify the disputed site as a public road. It also noted that the proposed church site lies within a short distance of the temple and has drawn sustained opposition from local residents.
At the same time, the judges clarified that opposition alone cannot determine legal rights. The court stated that if a right is established and objections are found unreasonable, the state has a duty to uphold the law and protect those rights.
