SC notice to Tamil Nadu govt on deputation of govt employees in temple administration

The Supreme Court has sought response from the Tamil Nadu government on a plea alleging deputation of government employees for administration of temples in the state.

A bench of justices D Y Chandrachud and Hima Kohli issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government returnable in six weeks.

"In the meantime, C S Vaidyanathan, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner states that a further affidavit would be filed indicating (i) the number of temples in the State of Tamil Nadu where no trustees have been appointed; and (ii) the number of temples in which government officers have been deputed," the bench said.

According to PTI report, at the outset, Vaidyanathan, appearing for petitioner T R Ramesh, submitted that according to Section 55(1) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, only temple trustees can appoint employees for the administration of the temples.

He said trustees have not been appointed for more than a decade due to the lackadaisical approach of the state government.  The plea alleged that the state government is appointing government employees in addition to the executive officers, who are already entrusted with the administration of the temples.