By Sampath Kumar BBC correspondent in Madras

Few women had access to higher education before Queen Mary's was built

The High Court in the southern city of Madras has asked the state authorities not to go ahead with the demolition of the building, which is home to the country's first women's college.

Students, teachers and ordinary citizens have been protesting against the government's decision to pull down Queen Mary's College to make way for a new secretariat building.

Chief Minister Jayalalitha announced on Friday that the college, which is more than 110 years old, would be bulldozed.

A High Court judge has intervened and decided to hear the case on Tuesday.

Vigil

The court also ruled that the demolition of the Queen Mary's College building could not go ahead until at least Wednesday.

Students have been keeping a round-the-clock vigil to prevent any efforts at destroying the structure, since the announcement was made to demolish it.

Systematic damage to many such historic places, has left the city with only 15 heritage sites Thara Murali Citizen's Protection Group

The authorities ordered the closure of the college and a hostel following Chief Minister Jayalalitha's announcement but more than 4,000 students refused to move out of the premises.

The college, run by the state government, is steeped in history.

College records show the building was constructed in the late 1880s and was named as 'Capper House', after the British officer Colonel Capper, who lived in it in the 19th century.

In 1914, the Women's Education Commission of the British rule decided to start a college in the building.

Opportunities for poor women

The aim was to empower women through higher education and Queen Mary's college became the first woman's college in India.

Madras has many buildings from the Raj era

Observers say the college has proved to be useful for poor women in particular. It charges very low fees and a number of physically disabled students study there.

The vast campus has numerous trees and faces the sea.

In addition to the original Capper House there are other important buildings such as Pentland House, Stone House and Jeypore House - all built between 1915 and 1921.

The campus is listed as 'grade II heritage'.

Professor of History at the college, Rajeswari, said the demolition would wipe out a historic record of the emancipation of women in India.

According to the Citizen's Protection Group, an NGO, the proposed building for the secretariat, in an area of around 800,000 square feet, would cause further traffic congestion and spoil the serene environment of the beautiful beach.

"Systematic damage to many such historic places, has left the city with only 15 heritage sites," said Thara Murali from the group.

Observers say there is a need for the law to prevent the loss of heritage sites in Madras.