Encroachment on Public Street Cannot Be Permitted Even If It Has Religious Character: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently ruled that encroachment, even if of a religious character, cannot be permitted on public places or lands vested with local bodies. The Court emphasized that it is the statutory duty of the Municipal Commissioner to remove such encroachments after giving due notice to the concerned parties. Justice V Lakshminarayana observed that a road or street does not possess any religious character, and any structure, religious…