Madras High Court Upbraids Dismissed Temple Officer, Orders Action on Lost Land

Court Ruling

The Madras High Court has upheld the dismissal of a Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department officer who allowed more than 20 acres of temple property to be given to private people. Justice Krishnaswamy Govindarajan rejected a plea filed by S. Ramakrishnan, the former Executive Officer and Fit Person of the Madhipaleeswaran Amman Temple in Vadavalli, Coimbatore.

The Charges

The former officer faced charges for giving no objection during a 2012 inquiry that led to the transfer of 20.94 acres of temple land to four private individuals. He also failed to report the inquiry to senior officials, skipped making entries in his tour diary, and did not file an appeal against the settlement officer's order. An inquiry officer found him guilty in 2014, leading to his removal from service, which the State government upheld in 2017.

Court Directions

Using parens patriae jurisdiction, where the court protects the interests of an idol like a minor child, the judge asked if the State government took steps to get the land back. The judge directed the HR&CE Commissioner to file a report on actions taken by October 28, 2026, and listed the matter for hearing on October 30.

Context

Temple properties in Tamil Nadu are managed under specific state laws by the HR&CE department to protect religious and charitable assets from illegal transfers. Courts often step in to safeguard temple assets when administrative lapses put public endowments at risk.