The Madras High Court recently criticised the Tamil Nadu government over its proposal to allot ecologically fragile land to a school as compensation for taking back temple land that was mistakenly auctioned off by the State in 1979 [St Joseph's Matriculation School v. Additional Chief Secretary].

After objections were raised that the land allotted in 1979 was land that was used for the purposes of the Arulmighu Devanatha Swami Temple, the State passed an order to recover possession of the land from the St. Joseph’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Cuddalore.

This was so that the land could be use again for temple purposes.

The school initially challenged this turn of events before the High Court in 2009, but eventually agreed to return the land in the spirit of communal harmony in exchange for alternative suitable land.

The State later offered the school land classified as sand dunes as alternate land. After the school challenged this turn of events, Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy criticised the State for its approach.

“In their endeavour to protect the sentiments of the devotees of the Temple, they had attempted to give away God himself," the Court lamented.

The Court described this case as a clear demonstration of how nature is taken for granted by man.

"It is apt to quote Hubert Reeves who said - 'Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature, unaware that this Nature he’s destroying is his God he’s worshiping.' This case is a clear example. Without realising that these Sand Dunes are also the incarnation of Lord Sri Devanatha Swami, who protects its land and people, the authorities deemed it fit to allocate to the petitioner (school), for development," it observed.

The Court proceeded to quash the allotment of such sand dune land to the school.

"Without considering the ecological importance of the sand dunes, the Government acted recklessly, in violation of the public trust doctrine imposed upon it," it held.

The Court further directed the State to identify and allot suitable land of equivalent value to the school in or around Cuddalore within a fixed timeline, failing which it must compensate the institution.

The dispute relates to land measuring about 3.40 acres in Koothapakkam village, Cuddalore, which was purchased by the school in 1979 through a government order.

Subsequently, objections were raised claiming that the land had been used for the purposes of the Arulmighu Devanatha Swami Temple. The State issued a resumption order in 2009, which was challenged before the High Court.

During those proceedings, the school agreed to surrender the land, without prejudice to its rights, on the understanding that the State would allot alternate land suitable for establishing an educational institution.

The Court had then directed the government to allot not less than 4.5 acres, preferably near a town or village and with road access.

The school moved a fresh petition in 2025, questioning the alternate land offered by the State. It argued that the alternate land's value was not even 25 per cent of the land earlier allotted to the school. Further, it was argued that a school cannot be set up on the alternative land, considering that it comprised sand dunes.

The Court agreed that the alternative land offered in Periyapattu village, Bhuvanagiri Taluk, was unsuitable both in nature and location. Referring to its ecological significance, the Court noted that sand dunes serve as natural buffers against storms and support ecological systems, and therefore cannot be diverted for development.

“They are an eco-sensitive system of utmost importance," it said.

The Court held that allotting such land violated the State’s obligation under the public trust doctrine and showed a disregard for environmental principles.

“The principles are completely disregarded in this case," the judgment records.

The Court also flagged the mismatch in value and usability between the resumed land and the alternative land offered.

“When the petitioner’s land, worth approximately Rs.8 Crores in Cuddalore town, is taken back, the land that is allotted has a value of Rs.2 Crores and is located 34 kilometres from Cuddalore Town without any road access. The government order directly contradicts the purport and spirit of the order passed in the (2009) writ petition," the Court held.

During the hearing, the State suggested other parcels of land in Thiruvanthipuram and Arisi Periyankuppam villages which could be offered to the school.

The Court found one parcel too small and another unsuitable. However, it indicated that land in Thiruvanthipuram village could be considered, subject to verification of its classification and feasibility.

If it is found not feasible, the State must identify alternative land of equivalent value in and around Cuddalore, preferably within 10–12 kilometres and with road access, the Court added.

The Court emphasised that any alternate land must be genuinely usable for running an educational institution and not merely a formal substitution.

If no suitable land is identified, the State must refund the value of the resumed land to the petitioner school the Court further ordered.

The school was represented by Senior Advocate Father Xavier Arulraj for M/s Father Xavier Associates.

The State was represented by Additional Advocate General J Ravindran with Special Government Pleader Senthil Murugan.

[Read Judgment]