Supreme Court stays demolition of a CSI church built as a community hall in Tenkasi district

17 October 2026

The Supreme Court on 16 October 2026 stayed the demolition of a Church of South India structure at Thippanampatti village in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu, and issued notice on the trust's petition.
The bench comprised Justice Vikram Nath, Justice R. Mahadevan and Justice Aparesh Singh. Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi appeared for the trust.
The case is Tirunelveli Diocesan Trust Association v. District Collector, SLP(C) No. 37197/2026.
The trust had received permission in 2014 to build a community hall named the Church of South India Community Hall; the building was later used as a church and a spire was erected without approval.
The District Collector rejected the trust's application for recognition as a place of worship on 25 June 2024, and the Madras High Court dismissed the challenge and directed demolition of the unapproved structure within four weeks.
The State relied on Rule 4(3) of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Building Rules, 1997, under which prior approval of the Collector is mandatory for sites used for public worship.
The trust argues that the directions violate Articles 14, 25 and 26 of the Constitution.