In a major development concerning the use of temple resources in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on 16 September 2025 rejected the DMK government’s plea seeking a stay on the Madras High Court order that had quashed government orders permitting construction of wedding halls using temple funds and properties.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made it clear that no interim relief would be granted, effectively halting all ongoing or proposed wedding hall projects financed through temple resources. The matter has now been posted for further hearing in November 2025.
Great news for Hindus from Supreme Court !
TN Govt’s plea to stay the order of the Hon’ble Division Bench quashing the Government Orders allowing Wedding Hall constructions using temple funds and properties
– IS REJECTED by Hon’ble Supreme Court
No STAY Granted.… pic.twitter.com/jCsfFrHjQS
— trramesh (@trramesh) September 16, 2025
This ruling comes weeks after the Supreme Court, on 30 August 2025, dismissed a separate plea filed by activist TR Ramesh against the Madras High Court’s decision permitting the state government to lease land belonging to Sri Somanathaswamy Temple in Kolathur for establishing a government arts and science college. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta had then observed that it was not inclined to interfere with the High Court’s reasoning that the lease was for a benevolent purpose.
The broader issue of temple land and fund usage has triggered political controversy in Tamil Nadu, with the DMK government defending its policies under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, while opposition parties and Hindu groups allege systematic diversion of temple resources for state projects.
HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu had welcomed the August order, claiming that the state had consecrated over 3,500 temples since the DMK came to power, with the number expected to reach 4,000 by January 2026.
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