'Quo Warranto Petition Filed Against Me Due To Recovery Of Temple Lands From Illegal Occupation By Hindutva Persons', Says HRCE Minister Sekar Babu

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) minister P Sekar Babu, through his counter-affidavit to a petition seeking a writ of quo warranto to be issued to him, stated that the petition was filed because he had recovered temple properties worth several hundred crores, which were grabbed by people belonging to the Hindu Munnani and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and this had irritated them.

The petition was filed by a Hindu Munnani office-bearer in his personal capacity.

According to a report by The Hindu, Sekar Babu told the Court, "Hindu Munnani and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) persons had grabbed temple lands worth several hundred crores of rupees. I have redeemed those properties from illegal enjoyment and hence they got irritated and filed this writ of quo warranto petition against me.”

"Their self claimed religious faith is only to enjoy temple properties illegally on permanent basis. Since I made efforts with the officers of the HR&CE department to redeem those properties, they have filed the writ petition (questioning the authority under which he was continuing to be a legislator despite participating in a conclave on annihilation of Sanatana Dharma) in a mala fide manner."

The counter-affidavit mentioned that since he assumed office as HRCE minister in 2021, 5780.97 acres worth Rs 5334.08 crore had been recovered from illegal occupation and out of this, based on a very conservative estimate, land worth Rs 162.41 crore had been recovered from "Hindutva persons," the report stated.

Representing Sekar Babu, Senior Counsel N Jothi told Justice Anita Sumanth that not all Hindus follow Sanatana Dharma, which had emerged from Manusmriti and promoted practices like the caste system, untouchability and Sati.

Continuing his arguments, Jothi told the Court that Sekar Babu is a Hindu who believes in the constitutional principles of equality and not discrimination.

He also stated that Sanatana Dharma was a 'compendium of Aryan laws which would not apply to Tamils' as they had been practising Hinduism and worshipping a number of deities much before the introduction of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Arguing for imposing a heavy penalty on the petitioner, he said that the case was against the basic structure of the Constitution.

He was further quoted by The Hindu as saying, “He wants your lordship to write a judgement accepting Sanatana Dharma which would indirectly lead to accepting caste system. If Sanatana Dharma, as propounded by Manusmriti, is accepted, then we will be overriding Article 17 (abolition of untouchability).”

The Court will next hear Senior Counsels R Viduthalai and P Wilson, representing senior DMK MP A Raja and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin as similar petitions have been filed against them.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), temple protection activist TR Ramesh, stated that while no one, whether they belong to any party or not, should illegally occupy temple property, he would like to know to assess Sekar Babu's statement and ask the following questions-

"1. According to him he has recovered (through his Dept) a total of Rs. 5334.08 crores. Of these Rs.162.41 Crores worth of properties were occupied by "Hindutva Persons".

"2. This means only 3% of Temple lands recovered were occupied by "Hindutva Persons" and 97% of lands were occupied by Non-Hindutva persons.

"3. Since the Minister has stated the exact value of lands occupied by BJP and Hindu Munnani - Will he also give the exact details of value and extent of lands occupied by DMK partymen, AIADMK party men and those belonging to other political outfits?

"4. Will the Minister also give the details of exact extent of occupations of Hindu Temple lands by those following Islam and Christianity?"

Further, he said that he had the following specific challenge for Sekar Babu-

"A. Can you come out with details of lands and sites belonging to Sri Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam occupied by those belonging to Muslim community?

"B. Can you come out with details of lands and sites in Vedaranyam occupied by those belonging to Muslim community where eviction orders have been passed but @tnhrcedept is NOT evicting the encroachers and NOT taking possession of Temple properties?"