Appointment of non-hereditary trustees to temples: HC seeks changes in rules

MADURAI The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has asked the State government to consider the necessity of incorporating suitable provisions in relevant Rules to provide for publication of applications, reasons for selection and orders of appointment of non-hereditary trustees to temples, subject to applicable law. The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by B.

Ramkumar Adityan of Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district, who sought a direction to Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to upload the applications submitted by applicants for appointment as non-hereditary trustees, along with annexures, the reasons for selection and the orders of appointment on the official website of the department and the websites of respective temples. He also sought a direction to calculate the period of limitation for filing appeals from the date of uploading appointment orders.

He said authorities had failed to maintain transparency in the appointment of non-hereditary trustees to the HR&CE temples.