Former Inspector General (IG) Ponn Manickavel has made a big expose in which he has said that the revenue that is earned by the Tamil Nadu government by taxing the temples in the state is allegedly misused by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department.
While speaking to the media, the former police officer shed light on the magnitude of temple taxation. He cited staggering figures levied by the previous AIADMK government. He revealed an annual tax collection of Rs 340 crore solely from Hindu temples, emphasising the obscured nature of this taxation system from public knowledge.
Manickavel revealed that unlike other state government departments funded by taxpayer money, the HR and CE Department operates on taxes imposed on temples. He unveiled a taxation scheme akin to that of corporate entities, ranging from 4 per cent to 12 per cent based on temple revenue.
Underscoring the magnitude of the taxation burden, Manickavel cited figures indicating that the previous AIADMK government collected Rs 340 crore and Rs 370 crore in temple taxes in consecutive years. Shockingly, he noted that the current DMK government, which assumed office in 2021, has increased the taxation further, now amounting to Rs 427 crores annually.
Expressing his dismay over the lack of awareness regarding temple taxation, Manickavel condemned the alleged destruction of 11 Adheenams by the government, leaving only a handful of ancient institutions intact. He lamented that even Hindu organisations were largely unaware of these practices, suggesting a deliberate concealment by authorities. He denounced the significant increase in temple taxes in recent years, emphasising that these funds are purportedly being diverted for administrative purposes such as salaries and pensions.
Ponn Manickavel has levelled serious allegations against two officers, Executive Officer M. Sakthivel and another unnamed officer, accusing them of being involved in fraudulent activities within the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Commissioner’s office in Nungambakkam.
He added that despite the hefty taxes imposed on temples, funds collected by the Nungambakkam office were allegedly diverted for unauthorised expenses such as lunch, snacks, and water bottles. He condemned this diversion of temple funds as tantamount to theft.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Manickavel cited over 19 reported crimes at the renowned Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple in Nungambakkam, indicating a broader issue of security and mismanagement within the HR and CE Department.
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In their complaint to the police, they alleged misappropriation of Rs 1.34 lakh from the funds of the Agatheeswarar Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple in Nungambakkam, Chennai.
Agastheeswarar Temple traditionally owned nearly 350 grounds of land surrounding it. The temple now possesses only 93 grounds.
In 2019, Madras HC directed the HR and CE departments to probe and recover the properties if they were sold illegally. Retired police inspector J Mohanraj has alleged that over 14 acres of temple land in Nungambakk worth at least Rs 1000 crore have been sold illegally without the government’s knowledge.
Temple administration filed a case against Srinivasan, alleging that the hereditary temple trustee had misused the Chennai City Tenants Protection Act and had sold 138 grounds of temple land without mandatory permissions under the Act. The remaining 212 grounds were either encroached upon or taken over by the government. There is a dispute in which mosque authorities claim ownership of a piece of land.
Earlier this year, HC dismissed appeals filed by film producer RB Choudry, MD of Super Good Films Private Limited, seeking an order to the registration department to register the land belonging to the Agastheeswara Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple at Nungambakkam.
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