Latest news with #HinduReligiousandCharitableEndowmentsAct
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
CM Stalin slams Palaniswami for opposing HR&CE-run colleges, cites temple role in education
During Palaniswami's term as chief minister, he had mortgaged the rights of Tamil Nadu and Tamils to the BJP government. After setting right all the damages the AIADMK government under Palaniswami inflicted on the state, Tamil Nadu has now climbed to the number one position in the country with an economic growth rate of 9.69%. This was disclosed by the Union government itself, Stalin said. Mentioning that the state achieved this despite facing hurdles from the Union government, the CM said, 'The share from the GST paid to the state is also not being properly released by the Union government. There are no special schemes. The funds essential for education of our children, which is normally given to all states by the Union government, was denied for Tamil Nadu. There has been no fund for Tamil development. They (Union government) refuse to release the report of Keezhadi excavation findings so that the pride of Tamils is not let known to the whole world. There is also the issue of delimitation.' 'How could you (Palaniswami) take out your tour without shame by aligning with those (BJP) who had snatched all the rights of Tamil Nadu?' he remarked. Meanwhile, reacting to Palaniswami's remarks of HR and CE department running colleges, the minister for the department PK Sekarbabu said the recommendation for running colleges by the HR and CE department was made by a commission headed by CP Ramaswamy, the then advocate general for Madras Presidency. Even during the Chozha regime, educational institutions were run by temples. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act allows running schools, colleges and universities. The Thirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam has been running seven colleges and four schools. In Kerala, three educational institutions have been functioning from the funds of the Sri Guruvayurappan temple. 'Palaniswami has made this remark just to satisfy the Sangh Parivar with whom he forged an alliance,' Sekarbabu said.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. CM Stalin pays tributes to Raja of Panagal on his birth anniversary
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday (July 9, 2025) paid tributes to Justice Party leader Panaganti Ramarayaningar, popularly known as Raja of Panagal, on his 159th birth anniversary, and credited him for issuing the Communal G.O. and enacting the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act. 'While we now assert with pride that reservation is our right, it was a century ago that this visionary of social justice laid the path through the Communal G.O.,' Mr. Stalin said in a post on X. The Communal G.O. sought 'to increase the proportion of posts held by non-Brahmins,' which also included Indian Christians, Muslims, and Adi-Dravidars, in the Provincial Services, including the Madras Secretariat. Mr. Stalin further said: 'If thousands of temples are being administered systematically today without falling under the control of any one particular group, it is because of the enactment of the HR&CE Act.' He also credited the Raja of Panagal for upholding the dignity of Adi Dravidars and said: 'As the successor to the Justice Party, our Dravidian model government continues to walk on the path of equality, the foundation for which was laid down by the Raja of Panagal.'
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Remove encroachments from temple properties: HC
Madurai: Madras high court has directed the authorities to take steps to remove encroachments from properties belonging to temples in Pudukottai district. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed in 2019 by A Radhakrishnan. The petitioner stated that land parcels belonging to the temples under the control of the Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR and CE) department were encroached upon in Pudukottai district. He submitted a representation to the authorities seeking the removal of the encroachments from the properties. However, no action was taken. Hence, the petitioner moved court. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that the competent authorities under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act are bound to initiate action against the encroachments and protect the same for the benefit of the concerned temple. Since the Act contemplates several procedures to be followed to recover temple properties from the hands of the encroachers, all such procedures are to be followed without causing any undue delay. Hence, the judges directed the authorities to initiate all appropriate action to protect the temple authorities by removing the encroachers and utilising the properties for the benefit of the temples and devotees as contemplated under the provisions of the Act and Rules. The petitioner is at liberty to give a fresh representation to the competent authorities providing all details enabling them to initiate appropriate action, the judges observed and disposed of the petition.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC dismisses petitions pertaining to Tiruchendur temple consecration
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a batch of petitions that sought a direction to authorities to conduct the consecration of Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur by using Tamil spiritual mantras and hymns equally. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete took cognisance of the counter affidavit filed by the Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer of the Temple. It was submitted that consecration will be conducted by using Tamil spiritual mantras and hymns. Dismissing the petitions, the court observed that the petitioners are unable to establish any right for the grant of the relief. In the absence of any right, the court cannot issue any direction. The procedures contemplated under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act and Rules are to be followed for administering temple functions. If there is no provision, then the government or the Commissioner should recognise certain practices, as the case may be, which were prevailing in a particular temple. However, such disputed claims cannot be decided by the court. These are all certain affairs, which are all to be considered by the HR & CE Department or the officers empowered under the provisions of the Act, the court observed. The court said that the petitioners are at liberty to approach the Commissioner for redressal of their grievance. On receipt of the representation, the Commissioner should look into it and take an appropriate decision. There cannot be any discrimination in the matter of treating the devotees or permitting the devotees to equally participate in the temple festival.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Scheduled Caste people offer prayers at Uthapuram temple
However, Pillaimars objected to SC people offering goat sacrifice and make pongal; Officials holding talks with both parties A minor tension prevailed at Uthapuram on Wednesday afternoon as people administering the Muthalamman temple objected to Scheduled Caste people making goat sacrifice and pongal on the temple premises. Revenue and police officials who were present there prevented 'practice of any new rituals' without the consent of the Pillaimars, who are the administrators of the temple. 'The High Court has directed the district administration not to prevent the Pillaimars from administering the temple in any manner,' a senior police officer pointed out. Following the court direction, the two-day festival at the temple went off smoothly with people from both sides offering worship in the temple since Tuesday. The Pillaimars performed goat sacrifice and also made pongal. They also took out mulaipari procession in the afternoon. 'Only when the Scheduled Caste people came for the goat sacrifice and making pongal, the Pillaimars objected to it and as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order situation, the worship was stopped later in the day after the festival got over,' the police officer said. Revenue and police officials were holding talks with both sides late into the night. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Sri Muthalamman, Sri Mariamman temple be opened to the public, irrespective of caste, community, or place of residence. A Division Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and R. Poornima observed that the worship of the deity inside the temple shall be opened to all without any restrictions. The court directed that the district administration shall not prevent Vellalar (Pillaimar) Uravinmurai and the community members from administering the temple in any manner. The Peepal tree inside the temple shall not be disturbed in any manner for any reason. No person shall touch the tree, whether in connection with worship or for any other act, whether religious or non-religious, the court directed. Further, the court directed the Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to initiate suo motu proceedings under Section 63 (e) of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, which empowers the authorities to decide on the customs or established usage of the religious institution, specifically concerning the form of worship of the Peepal tree.
