Madras High Court cancels the housekeeping contract of Palani Temple & orders formation of Trust by devotees for management of the Temple

In the Palani judgment has the Madras HC given a loud and clear message to the government to stay out of temple activities?

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Team PGurus
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In the Palani judgment has the Madras HC given a loud and clear message to the government to stay out of temple activities?
In the Palani judgment has the Madras HC given a loud and clear message to the government to stay out of temple activities?

In a big victory to the ‘Free Temples from Government Control’ movement, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday stripped the powers of the Executive Officer of the famous Palani Temple and ordered the formation of a Trust by devotees to control the affairs of the temple. The case was filed by noted activist T R Ramesh, President of Indic Collective. Ramesh petitioned against the Executive Officer, an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer who ordered for inviting tenders for the housekeeping contracts for Palani Temple (Arulmighu Dhandayuthapani Swami Temple).

Ramesh represented by Adv S Parthasarathy argued that devotees are offering voluntary services to clean the temple and its maintenance. Inviting tender for housekeeping is a commercial contract which prevents the rights of devotees offer voluntary service, which is popularly known as “Uzhavara pani”. The full 22-page Judgment is published below this article.

The State Government as well as the controlling authorities will take all possible steps to ensure that the board of trustees is constituted for the second respondent temple as early as possible.

Welcoming the judgment, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said:

“When the interests of the temple are involved, this Court cannot adopt a technical approach. Nor will it look the other way. It is the duty of this Court to ensure that the administration of the second respondent temple is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Act 22 of 1959 and the Rules framed thereunder. The tender notification has been issued by an official who is standing on this ice. Its tenuous nature has already been set out. In any event, a Fit Person cannot issue a notification of this nature. I, therefore, sustain the stand of the petitioner and quash the impugned tender notification.

“I cannot stop with that. Certain consequential directions have to be issued. The State Government as well as the controlling authorities will take all possible steps to ensure that the board of trustees is constituted for the second respondent temple as early as possible. Referring to certain disturbing developments in the State of Andhra Pradesh, today’s editorial in the New Indian Express says thus:

“…Reconstituting temple trust boards with eminent Hindus and men of impeccable character would

be a good start. Leaving the temples in the care of the bureaucracy and politicians hasn’t helped…”

These words are equally relevant to the State of Tamil Nadu,” said the Order delivered by Justice G.R. Swaminathan for the creation of Trust consisting devotees to manage the affairs of the Palani Temple.

The full Judgment is published below:

Madurai HC Palani Temple Judgment by PGurus on Scribd

Team PGurus
Team PGurus
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20 COMMENTS

  2. Excellent judgement. It shall be given effect to all Hindu Temples. It’s the right time to release all Hindu temples from the clutches of the State.

  3. Great acheivement for Hindus, landmark decision to free Hindu Temples from DMK and DK . The DMK was responsible to deny rights of Hindus to manage their own temples.

  5. It is truly great..v r all blessed..this is d beginning..let these people continue d good efforts..v must all be alert nd join together in d case of Andhra Pradesh

    where d Govt is already showing it is anti hindu by appointing a Christian as president for TTD in our famous Tirupathi..they r also converting whole villages into christianity..this is serious.. v have to fight to d end..ALL HINDU TEMPLES IN TAMILNADU ND also Andhra must totally be freed from d clutches of d state Govt..

  7. சென்னை உயர் நீதி மண்றம்
    மிகச்சிறந்த தீர்ப்பு
    பாராட்டுக்கள்

  8. Excellent beginning of a new era for Tamilnadu temples hope at least now the temples would attain its past glory and beauty

  10. Hearty congratulations TR Ramesh. Well done with your hard work. I am sure you will try your best to free all the Hindu temples from the clutches of TN Government and also get back all the properties looted by Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu. Great achievement. God bless you

  11. very good start. like this we have to evict government officials from all hindu temple. more over we have to get mack the properties of the hindu temples which was grabed by the dhravidan parties for the past 60 years

  14. Dravidian corrupt politicians should not be allowed to administer Hindu Temple and all idols, land properties wealth etc must be brought back cancelling any wrong doing with retrospective effect with fine and imprisonment to set an example and warning to future Governments, law makers and politicians and law courts in the Country.

  15. Madras High Court cancels the housekeeping contract of Palani Temple & orders formation of Trust by devotees for management of the Temple. A step in the right direction.

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