The Hindu : Front Page : Interim stay of Gokhale Hall demolition granted

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Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
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Interim stay of Gokhale Hall demolition granted

Special Correspondent

— Photo: R. Ragu

REPRIEVE: A view of the ‘Gokhale Hall’ in Chennai.

CHENNAI: Justice A.Kulasekaran of the Madras High Court on Monday granted interim stay of the demolition of the Besant Memorial Building, popularly known as ‘Gokhale Hall’ on Armenian Street, George Town, here.

In his writ petition, T.C.Sankar Raju alias T.C.S.Raju of Audiappa Street, Sowcarpet, said he was a member of the Young Men’s Indian Association (YMIA) for the past 25 years. The association was founded by Annie Besant, freedom fighter, along with eminent persons of all communities and religions of the then Madras State, in 1914 for the welfare of young men.

The head office of YMIA was known as the Besant Memorial Building. The intention to start the YMIA was to provide a building for young men with a club, gymnasium, lecture hall, library, reading room and residential quarters mainly for poor students.

The petitioner submitted that the heritage Gokhale Hall was used not only for cultural activities, but also to hold conferences and meetings by eminent freedom fighters.

The building was very strong and only needed some repairs. The dome of the hall was built in the European style and antique stones were used.

Despite severe opposition by the old members of the YMIA, it had been planned to demolish the building.

The petitioner prayed the court to grant an interim stay of the demolition of the building.

He prayed the court to issue a direction to the Inspector-General of Registration and the Registrar of Societies, Chennai, to conduct an enquiry on his representations dated October 27, 2003 and July 7, 2008.

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