Reports indicate the Tamil Nadu government is considering relaxing the rule that requires a law degree for appointments to Assistant Commissioner and higher posts in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. The move is said to enable officials from other departments, including the Revenue Department, to be appointed to HR&CE.
The HR&CE Department oversees 43,728 temples, while only around 800 staff—from inspectors to additional commissioners—are available for administration. With officials handling multiple temples each, the workload is heavy. Executive officers are recruited through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), and those entering at lower levels typically rise through promotions.
Under existing norms, candidates selected through TNPSC for Grade-I Executive Officer and Assistant Commissioner posts must hold a law degree, as protecting temple properties is a core responsibility. A large number of cases related to movable and immovable temple assets are pending in courts, and the legal qualification is intended to help officers handle litigation and property disputes.
The report also notes that, in recent years, IAS-led administration has brought in revenue officials for temple land-related work, including district-level and taluk-level postings meant to assist in eviction of encroachments and recovery of lands. Critics claim these arrangements have not delivered results and now warn that diluting the legal-qualification rule through a proposed legislative amendment could erode the department’s specialised character.
Social activists and spiritual groups argue that bringing in officers without legal training may weaken the department’s ability to defend cases and safeguard lands, potentially leading to reclassification of temple lands based on revenue inputs. They urge the government not to proceed with the proposed amendment in the upcoming Assembly session.
