CHENNAI, INDIA, June 8, 2022 (Hindustan Times): The famous Nataraja temple in Chidambaram on Tuesday did not allow officials of the Hindu, Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) to check their accounts, saying they have “no jurisdiction to call for records or inspect the premises.” This happened a day after the pontiff of Madurai mutt, an ancient Hindu monastery, called for disbanding of the department as it was interfering in running of the Hindu religious places. In May, the HR&CE department had served a notice to the dikshithars (hereditary priests) of Nataraja temple to keep records on the temple’s accounts and assets ready for an inquiry committee’s visit on June 7 and 8. But when a team of five members from the HR&CE department went to inspect the temple on Tuesday they were turned away twice, officials of the team said. The dikshithars priests, who manage the Nataraja temple, refused to show records to the team from the HR&CE department, contending that the latter had no jurisdiction to call for records or inspect the premises.
In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that the podhu dikshithars will run the temple by setting aside a 2009 Madras High Court order that allowed appointment of an officer by the HR&CE department to oversee the administration of the temple. Citing the SC order, the temple management said the HR&CE officials cannot inspect records as this isn’t a public temple. “We reiterate that we maintain all accounts and other records as per our bylaws of our Temple sattam (law),” the temple management said in a statement. “We will cooperate with a validly formed committee that has jurisdiction of verification and audit.” The HR&CE department manages 44,000 temples and trusts in Tamil Nadu. HR&CE minister PK Sekar Babu on Saturday assured that the government has no intention to take over the temple. Following the developments on Tuesday, Babu said the state government will consult legal experts and ensure that the accounts of the temple are checked.
HPI note: It is through claims of financial mismanagement that the state government could attempt to take over a private temple such as Chidambaram.
More at source.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tn-temple-refuses-to-allow-govt-audit-101654628529690.html