Property ownership dispute to be major poll issue in Srirangam

Property ownership disputes in Srirangam are set to be a major election issue, highlighting residents' frustrations with government inaction.

The simmering property ownership dispute between the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple administration and a section of residents in the temple town is likely to emerge as a key poll issue in the Srirangam Assembly constituency in the run up to the election.

The long-drawn out dispute has been a major concern for several residents in the urban segment of Srirangam constituency for several years now as the temple authorities have been claiming ownership rights over 329 acres around the temple as per an old Title Deed 1027.

A large number of property owners have been complaining that they were not able to sell or pledge their properties ever since the temple raised the claim in 2004.

The property owners claim that they purchased the lands and pattas had been issued through settlements reached at different points of time in the past. They maintained that as per the Inam Fair Register of 1864 only land within the first four prakaras around the temple was treated as temple poramboke and the land between the fourth and seventh prakaras was classified as village site poramboke.

Although a section of residents has moved the Supreme Court over the issue, a recent order of a district court holding that a group of property owners, which had sought pattas for properties, had no right to claim ownership over the adimanai (tenant holdings) has heightened the apprehensions of the residents in the temple town. The court had ordered that the lands should be handed over to the temple within three months.

Residents resent the failure of successive governments to resolve the vexed issue and say it will be one of the important issues at least in the urban segment. “It is a matter of grave concern that the issue has not been resolved for several years now. We regret that the matter which affects a large segment of people has been neglected by successive governments. Even though the issue is before the courts, political intervention and an administrative decision can bring about a permanent solution to the problem,” said Suresh Venkatachalam, president, Srirangam Nagara Nala Sangam.