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India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Faith call in Tamil Nadu: Should temple funds build colleges?
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated July 28, 2025)Control over temples—and, more to the point, temple funds—has been historically an emotive point of contention between traditionalists and rationalists in the South. The former prefer autonomy for the religious sphere and see any apparent overreach by the latter as a transgression—it's also an easy way to raise public passions. The latest shot across the bow came in a campaign remark by AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). Speaking during a statewide tour, he accused the ruling DMK of misusing temple funds for purposes unrelated to religion. That has escalated into a wider clash involving electoral strategies, the law, and the legacy of Dravidian seeing temples irritates the DMK,' EPS told crowds in Coimbatore. 'They are taking all the temple money and building colleges. People like you, with good hearts, donate into hundiyals for temple development. That money goes to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. They're diverting it. Isn't it unfair? Shouldn't the government fund colleges from its own resources?'The DMK backlash was sharp and swift. 'Even during his time, temple funds were used to inaugurate colleges. The HR&CE Act clearly allows surplus temple funds to be used for educational and charitable purposes,' CM M.K. Stalin said, in his first jab. Then he let go of a roundhouse: 'From being a dubbed voice of the BJP, EPS has now become its original voice.' Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin was no less vitriolic: 'EPS has fully transformed into a Sanghi. This is not the voice of the AIADMK; it's the voice of the RSS-BJP.' FIGHT FOR FAITHThere's context to the DMK's charge. For decades, the RSS-BJP has said temples should be administered solely by 'devotees'. The demand was revived at the World Murugan Devotees Conference at Madurai, in June. With BJP leaders in attendance, the event passed a resolution calling for 'liberating' temple affairs from state control. On July 12, the party raked up the issue again, insisting on transparency to prevent 'the plunder of temple wealth' and demanding a white paper on the issue. 'This talk of building new colleges is nothing but a smokescreen,' S.G. Suryah, state secretary of the Tamil Nadu BJP, told india today. 'The government's real record is one of neglect; thousands of temples are crumbling under its watch. Devotees' money must go toward preserving our sacred heritage, not funding the state's agenda. Our demand is simple: free our temples. Let the devotees, the true stakeholders, manage them.'Tamil writer Imayam, who serves as the vice-chairman of the TN SC/ST Commission, finds the idea of blocking temple money for education 'not just wrong, but vicious'. Tamil Nadu has 'historically resisted and won' against the 'push to privatise religion and turn temples into exclusive zones', says the Sahitya Akademi awardee. Indeed, temple funds gaining social purpose is no DMK innovation; way back in 1961, under Congress rule, surplus from the Palani temple helped set up the Palaniandavar College of Indian a bit from the onslaught, EPS has since attempted to clarify his remarks. 'I'm not against education,' he said. 'But when temples fund colleges, they often lack adequate facilities. Government-funded colleges are better equipped. That was my only point.' But the framing of his original remarks has allowed the DMK to present the AIADMK's rhetoric as increasingly aligned with saffron—and that can become an Achilles' heel for a substantial part of its vote base. Hitherto, it had been navigating through a zone of ambivalence. As the 2026 assembly election approaches, religion-oriented topics are likely to become even more politically charged, and the AIADMK may find it vexing to sail in two boats. For the DMK, it looks less troubling: an aggravation of the polity around religion only solidifies its to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Anyone can move court to safeguard temple properties: Madras High Court
The property was originally leased out to her husband Mohammed Iqbal. The temple moved a petition in the civil court against him in 1994 and a decree was passed in 2000 for taking back the possession and recovering the rental arrears. He moved appeals against the decree and after his death, his wife Nachia pursued the litigation. She questioned the legality of the managing trustee of the temple, instead of the HR&CE department, filing the petitions on behalf of the temple for executing the decree passed in 2025 in connection with a 2000 ex-parte order for recovery of the property. The judge remarked that the petitioner has been protracting the litigation merely on some technicalities by filing many frivolous applications one after another in order to see the dispute go unresolved. Disapproving of her contention that the execution petition was barred by limitation since it was filed after a long delay and the managing trustee does not have the locus standi, the judge held that it may not be appropriate to deny the respondent-temple the benefit of exemption from the ambit of the Limitation Act under Section 109 of the HR&CE Act in recovering the possession of temple properties and arrears of rent, merely on some delay in executing the decree.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. Minister slams Palaniswami over criticism of HR&CE-run educational institutions
Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) P.K. Sekarbabu on Thursday (July 10, 2025) hit back at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for questioning the department's role in running educational institutions using temple funds. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Mr. Sekarbabu said, 'It is highly condemnable that Mr. Palaniswami, unaware of the historical context, spoke like a mouthpiece of the BJP.' The Minister said over 22,450 students are currently studying in 25 schools, one polytechnic, and nine arts and science colleges administered by the HR&CE department. Since the DMK assumed office, ₹132 crore has been spent on building additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and auditoriums in these institutions. Despite legal hurdles, four of the 10 new colleges announced by the department have been inaugurated, benefitting around 2,500 students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, he said. Responding to Mr. Palaniswami's remarks challenging the department's authority to run educational institutions using temple funds, Mr. Sekarbabu said the core mission of the department also includes feeding the poor through annadanam, supporting education, and operating healthcare centres. Quoting Chola-era inscriptions from the Thirumukkoodal temple, the Minister said there is historical precedent for temples running schools and hospitals. He added the HR&CE Act empowers the department to establish and manage educational institutions. During Mr. Palaniswami's tenure as Chief Minister, the AIADMK government spent several crores from temple funds to develop HR&CE-run colleges, he said, and pointed out that former Chief Ministers, including K. Kamaraj, M. Bhaktavatsalam, M. Karunanidhi, M.G. Ramachandran, and J. Jayalalithaa, had endorsed temple-administered educational initiatives.
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC bins plea for panel on Tiruchendur temple repairs
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which sought a direction to constitute an expert committee to finalise the renovation and repair works in Subramaniya Swamy temple at Tiruchendur. A bench of justices S M Subramaniam and A D Maria Clete observed that such a committee had been already formed by the state government, based on a direction issued by the court on April 24. If at all, the petitioner is of the opinion that any customary practices were being violated, he can approach the competent authority under HR & CE Act. The litigant Ramkumar Adityan, an advocate from Thoothukudi, alleged in his petition that the temple administration has begun constructing additional amenities building for the temple in a coastal regulation zone without obtaining prior clearance. The construction plan for the parking facility also revealed a possibility of traffic congestion in Kamarajar Salai, North, South, East and West car streets, among others, he claimed. He requested the court to direct the government to appoint a committee with members who have expertise in Thantra Samuchiyam, Kerala Sambrathaya Agamam and Kumara Thantram Agamam, to inspect and identify violations, if any, in the renovation and repair works.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers cultivating Perur Patteeswarar Temple land in Coimbatore seek to halt evictions, demand legal protection
Farmers cultivating agricultural land owned by the Arulmigu Patteeswarar Temple in Perur, Coimbatore, have raised objections to eviction proceedings initiated by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. The farmers, who hold tenancy records under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969, claim they are being wrongly treated as encroachers. The farmers pointed out that a recent directive from the HR&CE Commissioner, dated February 10, 2025, clarified that registered tenant farmers could not be evicted under the HR&CE Act and that such action must follow the Public Trusts Act, which provided legal safeguards including fair rent fixation and dispute resolution through revenue courts. P. Kandasamy of the non-partisan Vivasayeegal Sangham (farmers' association) alleged that while most of the temple's lands were administered under the Public Trusts Act, selective enforcement using the HR&CE Act was being applied to certain plots, which was unfair. He also recalled that in 2023, the Supreme Court had restrained the HR&CE Department from proceeding with auction of Patteeswarar Temple land leased to farmers, observing that cultivating tenants were protected under the Tamil Nadu Public Trusts Act, 1961, and that public auctions of such land were prohibited. The farmers, represented by the association, submitted a petition to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister seeking the cancellation of eviction orders issued under the HR&CE Act and requested that those already evicted be permitted to return to cultivation, in accordance with the legal framework under the 1969 Act. They also urged the Chief Minister's intervention to ensure that Joint Commissioners and local HR&CE officials strictly adhere to the Commissioner's directive while dealing with temple land under tenancy.
