An official inquiry has found that legal provisions governing the registration of properties belonging to religious institutions were allegedly bypassed in the Palani monastery land case, according to registration department sources.
The issue centres on a 1.40-acre parcel linked to a monastery associated with the Palani Dhandayuthapani temple in Dindigul district, valued at about Rs 100 crore. The land was recently registered in a private individual’s name, triggering allegations of fraud.
Following complaints, a court intervened and cancelled the deed. The CB-CID is investigating the matter, while the Registration Department has also formed two high-level committees to conduct parallel inquiries.
As part of the wider review, officials are collecting details on where else temple, monastery and ashram properties may have been presented for registration. In one such instance, a deed submitted at the Thiruthuraipoondi sub-registrar office in Tiruvarur district was refused, citing Section 22A of the Registration Act, which requires government approval for sale of property owned by religious institutions.
A senior registration official said that, under the same Section 22A and existing departmental guidelines, the Palani sub-registrar should have declined to accept the monastery property deed for registration. The inquiry, the official added, indicates the then temporary sub-registrar failed to follow these safeguards.
