Following assurances from the State government, the Dharmapuram Adheenam has announced the withdrawal of its proposed protest over demolition of the old maternity hospital building in Mayiladuthurai.
The Adheenam had objected to the proposed demolition of the 70-year-old building, which once housed a free maternity hospital established in 1951 by the 24th pontiff of the mutt in memory of his mother. The hospital was later handed over to the municipal administration for maintenance. However, as the structure fell into disuse, the municipality decided to raze it for constructing a new office complex at a cost of ₹7.85 crore.
Expressing opposition to the move, the 27th pontiff Sri La Sri Masilamani Desika Gnanasambanda Paramacharya had recently announced a hunger strike through a social media post, appealing to the government to preserve the heritage structure built by his predecessors.
Following this, Mayiladuthurai Municipality Commissioner Veeramuthukumar wrote to the Adheenam’s manager assuring that no demolition work had been initiated. The pontiff subsequently announced that the protest was being withdrawn temporarily.
On Wednesday, a meeting organised by the Tamil Nadu Spiritual Protection Council at the hospital site urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to consider handing back the premises to the Dharmapuram Adheenam if the local body was unable to maintain it. The meeting saw the participation of Dharmapuram Adheenam Kattalai Thambiran Srimath Sivagurunatha Swamigal, council president Pannai T. Sokkalingam, and representatives from several Hindu organisations and political parties.
Published - October 08, 2025 08:26 pm IST
