Tamil Nadu
Temple Activist TR Ramesh Files Contempt Petition Against HRCE Officials, Says They Are Carrying Out Illegal Civil Works Using Temple Funds
Tamil Nadu HRCE Department
In a post on X, (formerly Twitter), temple activist TR Ramesh announced that he had filed contempt petitions against the Government Secretary, HRCE Commissioner and Executive Officers for carrying out illegal civil works like building wedding halls, commercial complexes, Yatri Nivas and training centres using temple funds.
He also stated that these civil works, estimated to be more than Rs 1000 crore were mainly carried out using money donated by devotees and not from the income due from the over 5 lakh acres of land held by Hindu temples and endowments.
Further, he alleged that the department had failed to collect about Rs 5000-6000 crore from temple lands per annum, which would amount to Rs 60000 crore in ten years.
He said that these civil works were illegal because of the following reasons-
“1. There are no trustees for most of the temples for more than 12 years. Only Dept servants are appointed as "Sole Trustees". This is patently illegal and prohibited by Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.
2. Under TN HR&CE Act only Trustees can administrative decisions. Govt or Commissioner of Dept taking decisions is totally illegal and again prohibited by Supreme Court.
3. The Surplus Funds of any Temple can be used for only a few dharmic purposes after the Trustees (not servants of Govt) opting for such purposes. Wedding Halls, commercial complexes, yatri nivas, etc. are not among the purposes.
4. Minister for Dept announcing in the Legislative Assembly and Dept starting projects is against the TN HR&CE Act and again prohibited by Supreme Court.
5. Utilising Surplus Funds for the above purposes is against specific order dated 07.06.2021 by Hon'ble Division Bench of Madras High Court.”
On the issue of kickbacks, he stated, "Many are aware that it is impossible to get contracts awarded by Govt servants without giving kickbacks. Kicbacks in Civil works cud be more than 30% of contract amount."
Regarding the position of Executive Officers, he said that they did not have legally valid orders to be present in temples and they were present only by "fraud".
A Division Bench of the Madras High Court has issued notices and asked the Government Pleader to reply within two weeks and send a copy of the response in advance to Ramesh.
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