The recent announcements of TN HR&CE department with regard to (1) Opening of colleges from the Hindu temple funds and (2) Melting of gold ornaments belonging to Hindu temples have once again drawn irritation and displeasure of Hindus in TN.
Even while the legal luminaries are of the opinion that the very idea of “management” of Hindu temples by a secular government is farce and against the basic tenets of constitutional provisions, the government of TN keeps on taking actions, which are beyond their jurisdiction and which keeps offending the religious sentiments of Hindus.
As regards opening of colleges from Hindu temple funds, Hindu organizations and legal experts are questioning the basic authority of the TN government to issue such orders, when there are no trustees in more than 95% of the temples. As such, Hindu temple funds cannot be utilised for any purpose other than the upkeep and improvement of the temples. Hence, this action of the HR&CE department is likely to be struck down by the court as void-ab-initio. In addition to this basic flaw, the decision of the HR&CE department to open colleges in locations far away from the temples, from where the funds are drawn. For example, funds from Shri Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai is proposed to be diverted for a college in Kolathur, which is 20 KMS away. Similarly, the proposal to start college from funds of Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur in Vilathikulam, which is 90 KMS away has raised the eyebrows of Hindus. In addition to misappropriation of Hindu temple funds, these are seen as brazen attempts to politicise Hindu temple funds for electoral gains of CM MK Stalin and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi. Hindus condemn this atrocious move by TN HR & CE department.
If at all an educational institution is decided to be open from Hindu temple funds, the decision need to be taken by the trustees by writing a letter to HR&CE Commissioner of their intent. Based on this request, HR&CE publish the proposal in leading newspapers and magazines providing one month duration for the devotees to register their objection. In the eventuality of devotee(s) raising objections, those objections need to be addressed properly to the satisfaction of the objecting devotee(s) before commencing the activities.
This brazen violation of law is deemed to be a criminal offence and if proved, the offenders are liable to 10 years of imprisonment, as per legal experts.
On the second issue of melting of temple gold, even while the petition was pending in the Hon’ble High Court of Madras challenging this move (in which the interim order was passed on 28th Oct 2021), the HR&CE department has hurriedly inaugurated the scheme by TN CM. TN Government order on temple gold melting states that the “unused” gold lying with the Hindu temples will be “identified”, melted and kept as gold bars with banks to generate “income”. At the outset, HR&CE department do not have any inventory with them to decide the quantum of gold available in temples. Hence, the HR&CE department has hurriedly formed a committee to take stock of gold in Hindu temples and this committee is mandated to take inventory in 2 temples in a day, to complete the entire exercise in a few months. If at all an inventory is taken, who will decide on the “usable” portion and “unusable” portion of the gold, as more than 95% of the temples do not have trustees. What will happen to the precious stones embedded in the ornament ? There is no tangible answer from HR&CE department to these just and genuine questions.
When challenged in the court of law, HR&CE department submits that this is being done from 1977 and by having gold bonds, HR&CE department is earning an interest revenue of Rs 11 Crores per annum. It is beyond comprehension of any individual with basic common sense that HR&CE department would melt golds to get this pittance as interest.
In addition to the gross violations of law and administrative transparency, this move also offends the religious sentiments of the devotees. Devotees offer gold ornaments to the temples with the hope that the ornaments offered by them would adorn the temple deity during festivities or special occasions. Now, by deciding to melt the ornaments, HR&CE department is utterly defying this religious sentiment of Hindus.
The Madras High Court on 28th October 2021, restrained the HR&CE department (read TN Government) from melting unused gold ornaments for monetisation purpose till trustees are appointed to the temples.
Though this come as an interim solace, Hindus are longing for a permanent solution to this problem. Hindus feel discriminated as the secular governments choose to take control of their religious institutions, mismanage the property, interfere in the agamas and divert temple funds for political electoral gains.
The permanent solution lies in government leaving the management and administration of Hindu temples to Hindus as was done till about 100 years ago. Whether the independent country should follow the footsteps of the coloniser and keep on discriminating against the majority Hindus ? Hindus await a reply.
