Appropriate Measures Must Be Taken To Ensure Proper Use Of Temple Lands: Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has recently emphasised the need to ensure the proper use of temple lands in respect of the matter on the maintenance of temples all over the State by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.
"It must be emphasized, however, that every effort should be made by the relevant department to protect temple properties all over the State, to mobilize the funds for the maintenance, upkeep and even restoration of temples. Temple lands often fall into disuse and are encroached upon, and water bodies within temple lands become virtual public properties without any protection. Appropriate measures must be taken in such regard all over the State.", Division Bench of Hon'ble Chief Justice Mr Sanjib Banerjee & Justice R.Hemalatha noted.
In the present matter, a petition was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing The Secretary to Government, Personnel and Administrative (Inspections) Reforms Department; The Secretary to Government, Tourism Culture and Endowments Department, Secretariat; The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to constitute Committees to inspect the records maintained by the Department Officials of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department all over the State as well as the records maintained by The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Thirukovil temple and other temples all over the State. It was also prayed to direct the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to initiate appropriate departmental action against the erring official responsible for missing the temple records & its properties & thereby recover the loss of temples from the monetary benefits of the erring officials by considering the petitioner's representations, dated 26.07.2020 and 08.01.2021.
Thus the Bench, while taking note of the substantive directions issued by the Principal Secretary following the petitioner's representation and disposing of the petition without taking any immediate action, allowed the petitioner to approach the Court after the passage of reasonable time in case of non-improvement at the ground level despite the implementation of the measures.
Case Title: A. Radhakrishnan v. The Secretary to Government Personnel and Administrative (Inspections) and Others