Temple EOs appointed by HR&CE Dept. cannot interfere with religious, customary and traditional practices: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court ruled that Executive Officers appointed by the HR&CE department cannot interfere with the religious and traditional practices of temples. The court clarified that their role is strictly limited to the management of movable and immovable temple assets.
Why it matters
This ruling sets a significant legal precedent regarding the separation of administrative oversight and religious autonomy in Indian temple management.
Executive Officers (EOs) appointed by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to various temples in the State cannot interfere with the religious, customary and traditional practices of the temples and must confine themselves to maintenance of movable (including temple revenue) and immovable properties, the Madras High Court has ruled.
A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan also held that the EOs could double up as Fit Persons (in the absence of a board of trustees) only under exceptional circumstances and and that too for a brief period. The judges, further, underlined that a Fit Person could be appointed only as an interim arrangement/ adhoc measure and not for years together.
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