In a series of tweets, the Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK) has said that their political mission is not to rule Tamil Nadu but to bring about reforms in the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department and free temples from state control.
Acknowledging the fact that it is easier said than done, IMK has proposed to scrap the extraordinary powers vested with the department if they get hold of the Ministry.
It noted that the HR&CE has quasi-judicial powers like a District Magistrate and added that it paved way for arbitrary change of rules, trustees and conducting festivals at their convenience, with complete disregard for the Agamas and other traditions mandated by various Hindu spiritual texts. It said that it was because of this judicial power that no HR&CE employee accused of corruption has been punished so far.
Speaking to The Commune, IMK spokesperson Sathya Narayanan said 20% of the problem would be solved if this judicial power is taken away from the HR&CE department and given to the courts.
“If you file a complaint against encroachments of temple lands, the entire decision will be legally taken by HRCE. They write a report, mimicking, as Revenue Department, Police Department, etc. There is no way a powerless Hindu can fight this injustice. That is why we want to get hold of power of this Ministry and our focus is only this Ministry. Nothing else.”, Sathya Narayanan said.
Sathya also pointed out the department warrants various other reforms to be carried out. “So far, only internal audits are carried out which is submitted as a report to the Commissioner. A compulsory external audit mechanism from two independent bodies has to be put in place.”, Sathya said.
“In 1974 a major temple called out for donating 2 sovereigns of gold to the temple. Hundreds of devotees donated. The audit for this scheme was done in 2011, after close to four decades. That audit too concluded with no proper data as 50% of the staff either retired or were dead.”, Sathya noted.
He also said that there needs to be clear demarcation over which the department has powers adding that taking care of the welfare of the cows in goshalas and temple elephants were the duty of the animal husbandry department and forest department respectively.
“This is the start. By doing these reforms, we can get HR&CE from an administrative role to only a supervisor role which will enable devotees to have greater clarity administration of temples. This is how we can gradually relieve temples from state control.”, Sathya said.
He said that for the IMK to get the Ministry they would need to win in at least 25 seats to bargain, if they were to go alone.
“But if the AIADMK-BJP accommodates us, these changes would be easy to bring about.” Sathya said.
In all the other govnt depts, illegality is in form of Scams, Corruption, Violation but only in HR&CE we have THEFT in addition to these.
1. HRCE has quasi-judicery power, just like how Income Tax, ED,NIA depts functions, each dist office has the power of a Dist.Collectorate.
— Indu Makkal Katchi – இந்து மக்கள் கட்சி ( Off ) (@Indumakalktchi) January 16, 2021