External audit for temple properties mooted

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Pushpa Sathyanarayana while disposing a plea seeking to fix rent as per market value and hold public auction for shops and other establishments on land belonging to Sellandiamman Temple in Perundurai said, “Every temple in Tamil Nadu is suffering from losses running into several hundred crores of rupees despite government claims on being serious about consolidating temple assets.” 

The Bench also held, “The lands of the Lords are in trouble! Even Gods are not spared. Temples are symbols of Tamil history. But God’s money is robbed by the notorious society. The tenants and encroachers are defrauding on rent for temple lands taken on lease. Breaking hundis, stealing temple jewels, the value of which are immeasurable and smuggling of antique idols to foreign countries are increasing day-by-day.” 

The petitioner KS Kuppusamy had contended that Sellandiamman Temple had 10.87 acres of land in Perundurai of which 4.02 acres was leased for establishing the Kongu Vellalar Matriculation Higher Secondary School. But the School had occupied another 2.50 acres of land illegally. Similarly, some original tenants have sublet shops to third parties demanding excessive rents, causing wrongful loss to the temple. 

The First Bench on taking the plea as a Public Interest Litigation came down heavily on the HR&CE for its lackadaisical attitude in realising rents and arrears. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana said, “A special court could be formed to deal with cases relating to HR&CE exclusively so that the cases would be cleared in a speedy manner.” 

The judge also suggested the appointment of external auditors since the lack of it has made it impossible to gauge how much money is recovered and utilised.