The Madras High Court on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, expressed concern over the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department’s continued reluctance to proactively publish temple-related documents mandated under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The case, WP 39458 of 2025, filed by temple activist TR Ramesh, sought a direction to the HR&CE Department and other respondents to publish all information required under Section 4(1)(b), (c) and (d) of the RTI Act. The petition called for the disclosure of government orders, departmental approvals, notifications, tenders, and other documents involving temple funds and properties.
Advocate B Jagannath appeared for the petitioner, while Special Government Pleader (SGP) NRR Arun Natarajan represented the HR&CE Department. Advocate Vigneshwaran Chandrasekar appeared for the State Information Commissioner.
During the hearing, the SGP sought additional time to file a counter affidavit and to produce documents showing what information has already been uploaded on the HR&CE website. He stated that while some tender-related details are available on individual temple websites, certain land-related records could not be uploaded.
Taking note of these submissions, the Bench orally observed that while personal or classified information exempted under Section 8 of the RTI Act need not be disclosed, there was “no justification” for withholding public documents such as tenders, audit objections, land registers, and fund-related notifications. The Court said such information ought to be uploaded voluntarily under the statutory mandate of Section 4.
The Bench further pointed out that as per Section 29 of the HR&CE Act, temple property registers must be annually updated and published. It termed the Department’s reluctance to upload these details as “baffling.” The Court also reminded the respondents that tender details must be uploaded in compliance with the Tender Transparency Act.
The SGP assured the Court that a detailed counter affidavit would be filed within two weeks, along with a typed set containing the dates of all uploads made by the Department. The Court granted two weeks’ time and directed that advance soft copies be served to the petitioner.
The matter has been adjourned to 12 November 2025, for further hearing.
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