“HR&CE Can Intervene In Temple Mismanagement, Cannot Touch Rituals, Rules Madras High Court”, The Commune, December 09, 2025

“The Madras High Court has held that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) Department is empowered to inquire into allegations of maladministration in a temple when public donations are involved, even if the temple has not been formally notified as a public religious institution.

A division bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice P Dhanabal delivered the ruling while hearing a writ appeal connected to Arulmigu Vembiamman Thirukovil. The matter arose from a plea filed by the hereditary trustee seeking a direction to the District Collector to consider his representation and restrain private parties, now the appellants, from interfering in the temple’s administration.

While disposing of that petition earlier, the single judge had instructed the appellants not to interfere with the temple’s administration and had also directed the HR&CE Department to examine issues raised and take appropriate action after hearing all sides. The appellants challenged the maintainability of the original writ petition and argued that the single judge travelled beyond the scope of the prayer by issuing directions to the department……”

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