Questions have been raised over the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department issuing a civil works tender for an ancient temple in Tiruppur district, as the move violates a recent Madras High Court order.
According to documents shared by temple activist TR Ramesh, the HR&CE Department has invited e-tenders for the construction of a three-tier Rajagopuram at the Arulmigu Venkatesa Perumal Temple in Mondipalayam, Avinashi taluk of Tiruppur district.
The tender notice, dated February 2026, estimates the project cost at ₹89,11,109 (including GST), with an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹54,556 and a stipulated completion period of 24 months. The bid submission deadline is listed as 12 March 2026 (11:00 AM), with opening scheduled for 3:00 PM the same day through the state’s e-tender portal.
It is alleged that proceeding with such civil works in an approximately 300-year-old temple runs contrary to an interim order passed by a Division Bench of the Madras High Court on 20 January 2026, which reportedly stayed civil works in ancient temples until the Heritage Commission is constituted and approvals are obtained.
Senior officials in the HR&CE Department, including those with legal backgrounds, are accused of disregarding judicial directions. The timing of the tender is also under scrutiny, since it was issued ahead of the possible enforcement of the Election Model Code of Conduct in Tamil Nadu.
No dearth of law breakers in the @tnhrcedept – the IAS fellows in the Dept & the Govt – – the Additional Commissioners, Joint Commissioners in the Dept who are Law Graduates, seem to take extraordinary pleasure in disobeying Court Orders –
An honble Division Bench of MHC, on… pic.twitter.com/39VVsJWD63— trramesh (@trramesh) February 26, 2026
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