Kuala Lampur, March 24 -- MIC deputy president Datuk M Saravanan has refuted claims that the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple in Jalan Masjid India was constructed illegally.

He asserted that the allegations were baseless and misrepresented the temple's long-standing presence in the area.

"This temple, which has stood for over 100 years, has always been here," he said at a press conference held at the temple on Sunday (March 23).

But he conceded that the temple "was built on land owned by DBKL".

The case of Muniandy A/L Subramaniam & Ors V Majlis Perbandaran Langkawi Bandaraya Pelancongan & Anor [2003] can be looked at as to the status of a temple on State land.

In that case, the plaintiffs, who were committee members of the Sri Munis...