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Founder of Isha Foundation, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has filed a plea in the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench)  seeking a direction to conduct external audit of temples in Tamil Nadu which comes under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.

A Division Bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Justcie P. Velmurugan sought a reply from the State to the petition that demanded an external audit of over 44,000 temples to ascertain their present status.

The matter is expected to be heard next on 12^th January, 2022.

The petitioner in his plea urged for an external audit of 44,000 plus temples under HR&CE department to ascertain the condition of all their structures, associated lands and immovable assets, status of possession and occupation of the temple properties, the rents received and the dues, among others. 

He has approached the court as there was no response from the government following repeated appeals on the matter. 

The petition that has been filed in November, 2021 named the state of Tamil Nadu and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) as respondents  

According to the petitioner, the situation prevailing in these temples might not be to the expected standards. Therefore, it was necessary that the temples were maintained properly so that the spiritual process and the rituals were performed for the people to experience the purpose for which these temples were consecrated.

He also sought a direction to set up a commission comprising eminent people and experts to examine devolution of the temples to the community.

[Case Title - Jagadish Vasudeva v. State Of Tamil Nadu]

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