TIRUPPUR: Hindu Munnani leader Kadeswara Subramaniam has welcomed a Supreme Court verdict on temple properties, stating that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department and the Tamil Nadu government are only custodians and not owners of such assets.
In a statement, he alleged that during the rule of Dravidian parties, temple lands meant to be protected were instead taken over for public infrastructure such as bus stands and government offices.
He cited a case from Erode district involving the Kodumudi–Nagapalayam Mariamman and Ponnachiyamman temples, where, he claimed, a temporary trustee was appointed and a donation settlement deed was registered through the Collector to a Tahsildar, following which a Tahsildar office was constructed on the land.
Referring to the case filed by the hereditary trustee, Subramaniam said the Supreme Court held that temple properties and inam lands belong to the temple, and that the state government and HR&CE cannot be treated as owners. He urged the department to accept the ruling, recover encroached temple lands, and hand back properties occupied by the government to the temples.
