The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has sharply criticized the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of the DMK government for failing to properly maintain temples under its control, particularly the historic Rameswaram Ramanatha Swamy Temple. The court likened the department’s functioning to that of “Vasool Raja MBBS jobs,” implying that the department is more focused on revenue collection than on temple upkeep and filling crucial vacancies.
The remarks were made during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Yanai Rajendran, who sought to fill the vacant posts of priests and officers at the Rameswaram temple. Rajendran highlighted that, according to regulations, the temple should have 12 priests (Gurus) and 19 assistant priests. However, only 2 priests and 7 assistants are currently employed. Additionally, he noted that 42 other key positions, including that of Bhagavatars, remain unfilled.
Rajendran pointed out that despite the temple generating more than ₹90 crore annually, the HR&CE Department has neglected its responsibilities, particularly in maintaining temple operations and filling vacancies. He argued that the lack of adequate staff is affecting the conduct of daily rituals and pujas, which are vital to the temple’s spiritual and cultural activities.
The bench, comprising Justices Subramanian and Victoria, questioned the HR&CE Department about the sanctioned number of priests and staff for the Rameswaram temple and how many were actually employed. The court also sought details on the temple’s annual income and expenditure, ordering the department to submit a comprehensive report addressing these issues.
The Rameswaram Ramanatha Swamy Temple is one of the most revered and ancient temples in Tamil Nadu, attracting thousands of devotees daily, especially on auspicious days. The PIL has brought to light broader concerns about the HR&CE Department’s oversight and the overall condition of temple maintenance across the state.
The court’s directive is seen as a critical step toward ensuring that the necessary appointments are made to restore the temple’s operations to full capacity.
#BREAKING || அறநிலையத்துறை மீது நீதிபதிகள் கடும் விமர்சனம்
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— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) September 26, 2024
(With inputs from OneIndia Tamil)
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