The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to file a report on steps taken to recover temple properties allegedly occupied or held by parties who have failed to pay rent, including ₹1.50 crore in arrears linked to the Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple.
The direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation petition filed by Radhakrishnan of Alwarkurichi. The petitioner said properties belonging to the Sankararameswarar and Vaikuntapathi temples in Thoothukudi had been encroached upon and that some individuals were claiming rights over the assets with the alleged support of certain officials.
The petitioner also referred to a representation submitted to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department seeking the recovery of properties belonging to the Tiruchendur temple. The plea asked the authorities to consider the representation and take action.
The court had earlier directed the executive officers of the two temples to provide details on land leased to occupants who had failed to pay rent. The information sought included the list of defaulters, the arrears pending from them and the action taken to recover the dues, or the reasons for not taking such action.
During the hearing, the government advocate informed the bench that the Tiruchendur temple had rent arrears of ₹1.50 crore. The judges questioned why people who had taken temple properties on lease for commercial activity were not paying rent. They also observed that the temple administration could issue notices and initiate steps to evict occupants if rent was not being paid.
The bench expressed concern over alleged irregularities involving temple properties and officials. It observed that changes in governments and transfers of officials could lead some people involved in alleged irregularities to believe that they might avoid accountability. The judges also remarked that the fear of legal proceedings that officials had earlier was no longer present, according to the report of the hearing.
The case was heard by Justices P. Velmurugan and K. K. Ramasamy. The bench directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to file a report detailing the action taken to recover temple properties. The next hearing has been scheduled after two weeks.
