Prominent temple activist TR Ramesh has raised serious concerns over the appointment of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) executives to the management panels of educational institutions run by Hindu temples and endowments. Ramesh, who has been a staunch advocate for freeing temples from government control, condemned this move as a violation of court verdicts and an act of misappropriation of temple funds.
The latest issue centers on the HR&CE department’s decision to appoint its executives to the management committee of Arulmigu Palaniandavar Arts College for Women in Palani. Ramesh asserts that this move flagrantly violates both the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Act, 2018, and the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act, 1976.
On May 30, 2024, Ramesh issued a notice to the Secretary of the Government of Tamil Nadu, Tourism, Religious Endowments, and Culture Department at Fort St. George, Chennai, as well as the Commissioner of HR&CE in Nugambakkam, urging immediate action. He demands the removal of the Commissioner and all departmental personnel from the management committees of schools and colleges associated with Hindu temples.
In his letter to the Secretary of Tourism and Religious Endowments and the Commissioner of the HR&CE Department, Ramesh emphasised the lack of legal authority for these appointments. He stated, “Educational institutions run by Hindu temples and endowments, whose management is illegally controlled by the officials of the HR&CE Department, are suffering from these unlawful placements. These officials are included in the management committees of such schools and colleges without any legal authority to do so. The essential purpose of imparting instruction in the Hindu religion, a fundamental reason for establishing such schools and colleges with temple/endowment funds and properties, has not been fulfilled even after many years of their inception.” You are called upon to :
(a) Remove the Commissioner and all servants of the HR and CE Department from the Management Committees of schools and colleges belonging to Hindu Religious Institutions with immediate effect and leave the constitution of the appropriate management committee of schools and colleges with the trustees of the respective temples/endowments in accordance of the Private School Regulation Act, 2019 and the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation Act, 1976, respectively
(b) Introduce stream of courses that carry out instructions in the Hindu Religion, particularly in the instructions pertaining to the religious denomination of the temples and endowments to which such schools and colleges belong.“
Taking this matter to his official X account, TR Ramesh stated, “I have today issued notice to the Secretary, Religious Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Commissioner of @tnhrcedept to remove the Commissioner and all servants of the Department from the Management Committees of schools and colleges that belong to Hindu Temples. Besides occupying Hindu temples by fraud for more than 70 years, another serious violation of law and Hindu Dharma carried out by the @tnhrcedept is the illegal occupation of the management committees of schools and colleges belonging to Hindu schools.”
https://twitter.com/trramesh/status/1796028087802745262
Ramesh added, “”The instrumentalities of the HR&CE Department control every aspect of these educational institutions, which are HINDU schools and colleges. They treat them as secular institutions,” Ramesh stated. He emphasised that the Commissioner and HR&CE officials lack the legal authority to serve on these management committees. “The illegal management committees also decide on the appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff, all administrative expenses, and tenders for major works and purchases in the schools and colleges.”
Ramesh argued that these appointments lead to significant financial gains for those in power, stemming from what he described as the illegal occupation of Hindu schools and colleges by HR&CE officials. He also criticised the department for failing to include Hindu religious instruction as a primary subject in these institutions, despite this being a fundamental requirement under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.
Ramesh referenced a 2021 interim order from the Hon’ble Division Bench of the Madras High Court, which stated that the original religious purpose of these colleges should not be forgotten while providing general education. “But as usual, the TN Government and the @tnhrcedept continue to violate the law and court orders,” he remarked. He warned that if appropriate action is not taken within four weeks, he would file a Writ Petition to remove HR&CE officials from the management committees of Hindu temple-run schools and colleges.
The issue also echoes concerns previously raised by retired idol wing IG Ponn Manickavel, who warned of widespread corruption when the entire administrative chain is managed solely by HR&CE department employees. In this instance, the college operates with funds from the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, and having the management committee comprised entirely of department staff violates principles of checks and balances and transparency.
