The Madras High Court has annulled the appointment of Jeevanandam as the thakkar (custodian/trustee) of the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai.
Jeevanandam was appointed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to oversee the temple’s administration. However, his appointment was challenged in a petition filed by T.S. Shankar, a lawyer from Tiruvannamalai, who argued that the decision went against established norms and public sentiment.
In his petition, Shankar contended that Jeevanandam’s selection was made despite objections from devotees and local residents. He further pointed out that, under the HR&CE Act, a committee of trustees must first be constituted for temple management, from which a chairman should then be selected. This procedure, he argued, was bypassed.
Additionally, the petition alleged that five individuals with political affiliations were appointed to the trustee committee, rendering the composition of the committee legally questionable. Shankar also noted that Jeevanandam is a tenant on temple trust property, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and personal gain.
The case was heard by Justice Bharat Chakravarthy, who upheld the petitioner’s arguments and ruled that the HR&CE Department’s order appointing Jeevanandam was invalid. The court consequently ordered the cancellation of his appointment as thakkar of the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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