If a large church is proposed in vicinity of a temple, mala fide intentions cannot be ruled out: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has issued an interim injunction against the construction of a church near a temple in Coimbatore, citing potential threats to religious amity. The court noted that in a pluralistic society, the proximity of religious structures can lead to communal tensions.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights the judiciary's role in managing communal sensitivities and land-use disputes in a secular state.
“If a large church is proposed to be constructed in the vicinity of a temple, mala fide intentions cannot be ruled out. Since India is a secular nation and a pluralistic society, religious amity has to be preserved, especially when an overwhelming majority of Hindus oppose the construction of a church in close proximity to the temple,” said the Madras High Court.
The court's language regarding 'mala fide intentions' and the inclusion of the petitioner's counsel's arguments about 'fundamentalist organizations' reflects a specific cultural-political narrative.
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