Tamil Nadu HR&CE Minister orders temples to report VVIP visits and act against land encroachment
At a review meeting, HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh directed temples across the state to report VVIP visits to the Commissionerate and to file police complaints and take legal action over encroachment and illegal name transfers of temple land.
- DT Next
At a review meeting, HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh directed temples across the state to report VVIP visits to the Commissionerate and to file police complaints and take legal action over encroachment and illegal name transfers of temple land. He also ordered CCTV at busy temples, a ban on photography and videography inside temple premises, renovations as per government rules and shorter waits at annadānam.
Why it matters
Tamil Nadu's HR&CE department controls tens of thousands of temples, so its land protection and governance practices are central to the temple-autonomy debate.
GK: did you know?
The department works under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, while Article 26 guarantees religious denominations the right to manage their own affairs in matters of religion.
