The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has criticized the Tamil Nadu government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department for neglecting the proper upkeep and maintenance of temples under its control. The court’s remarks came following hearing on the Rameswaram Ramanatha Swamy Temple, highlighting the department’s focus on revenue collection at the expense of temple care.
The court likened the HR & CE Department’s functioning to that of ‘Vasool Raja MBBS jobs’, a reference implying that the department is more focused on extracting revenue than addressing temple needs, such as filling crucial vacancies. This came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Yanai Rajendran, who called for the immediate filling of vacant posts for priests and officers at the Rameswaram temple.
Rajendran highlighted that the Rameswaram temple, one of Tamil Nadu’s most significant spiritual centers, generates over Rs 90 crore annually but has neglected essential staffing requirements. As per the regulations, the temple should employ 12 priests and 19 assistant priests. However, only 2 priests and 7 assistants presently manage temple rituals. Rajendran further pointed out that 42 key positions, including Bhagavatars, remain vacant, affecting daily poojas and rituals.
The bench, comprising Justices R Subramanian and Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri, questioned the HR & CE Department about the sanctioned and actual staffing at the temple. They also requested detailed reports on the temple’s income and expenditures, ordering the department to submit a comprehensive account of its financial and operational management.
The court’s directive is seen a significant step toward ensuring the proper functioning of one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest and most revered temples, particularly with its large influx of devotees.
Meanwhile, the HR & CE Department is facing backlash over a recent fee hike at another major temple, the Subramania Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur. The temple, one of the six sacred abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan, which runs from 2 to 9 November 2024.
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