Chennai,Oct 29:
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to amend the relevant rules to enable the publication of details of applicants and appointed trustees on its website.
The direction came while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Ramkumar Adithan of Tiruchendur, who alleged a lack of transparency in the appointment of trustees to temples under the department’s control.
The petitioner pointed out that applications had been invited for appointing trustees to 9,215 temples under the jurisdiction of the department’s Joint Commissioners and 214 major temples. He sought directions to publish the details of applicants, the reasons for their selection and the appointment orders on the HR&CE Department’s website and the websites of the respective temples.
He contended that making the information publicly accessible would improve transparency, strengthen public confidence and allow people to raise objections regarding the qualifications or backgrounds of candidates considered for the posts.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Bharathan, appearing for the government, submitted that the existing rules did not provide for uploading the details of applicants on the department’s website.
The Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and K.K. Ramakrishnan observed that transparency was necessary in the appointment of temple trustees. The judges referred to reports of alleged misappropriation of temple funds and jewellery by some trustees and the sale of temple properties.
The court directed that the rules be amended to facilitate the online publication of details of those who applied for trusteeship and those who were appointed. It also directed the HR&CE Commissioner to consider the petitioner’s representation and pass appropriate orders.