The administration of the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai is under fire again after serious allegations surfaced regarding irregularities in a ₹3.68 crore tender process for building temporary ‘Q-line’ sheds for devotees.
According to tender documents issued by the temple authorities on 9 April 2025 (Tender Notice No.10/2024-2025), two separate tenders were floated — one for ₹1.74 crore and another for ₹1.94 crore — for the same nature of work: construction of temporary sheds between Pei Gopuram and Ammaniamman Gopuram.
The splitting of a single job into two contracts raises major legal concerns. Under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act, 1959, civil works above ₹2 crore require prior approval through a Government Order (GO) issued by the Tamil Nadu government. Works below ₹2 crore can be cleared by the HR&CE Commissioner alone. By dividing the project into two tenders, temple officials appear to have sidestepped the mandatory government approval process.
More betrayal at sacred Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai !
The so-called “administration” at Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple has called for tenders just to build temporary ‘Q line’ sheds for devotees!
Is this the best they can do for the lakhs who come seeking… pic.twitter.com/LRqMIuLJRh— trramesh (@trramesh) April 27, 2025
This action also contravenes clear directives from the Hon’ble Madras High Court, which has explicitly prohibited splitting of a single project into multiple tenders to evade statutory oversight.
It is noteworthy that the Executive Officer currently managing the temple is functioning without a valid appointment order, raising questions about the legality of the decisions taken under his authority, as alleged by temple activists. As per government procedure, valid appointment notifications are mandatory for officials in charge of major temples.
The tender documents further show that the construction is for temporary structures, despite the project’s high value, intensifying concerns about financial propriety and administrative priorities at one of Tamil Nadu’s most sacred heritage sites.
Meanwhile, devotees and heritage conservationists have pointed out that no modern constructions should interfere with or alter the sanctity and heritage fabric of ancient temples like Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, a site of enormous religious and cultural significance.
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