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Land belonging to temples cannot be used for commercial purpose

The Kerala High Court on Thursday refused permission to the Travancore Devaswom Board to construct a Convention Centre near Shanghumugham Beach.

According to TDB, the land was situated very close to Sanghumugham beach and the international airport. Considering the commercial importance of the locality, the board had decided to construct a convention center. The Court observed that the primary purpose of the Devaswom Boards was to put those lands to use in connection with the activities of the temple and religious, spiritual, cultural and other aspects which are intricately connected with the activities of the temple.

Any activity of the Devaswom Boards, which are merely the statutory guardians of devaswom lands, to put such property to commercial use should be restricted to the bare minimum and which is indispensable in the context of any particular locality or temple. It has also to be done only by ensuring that any such investment generates appropriate income.

Article referred: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150723/nation-current-affairs/article/kerala-high-court-rejects-tdb-plea-build-convention-centre

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