Old age homes with temple funds are built after getting consent of MLAs and public, TN govt informs HC

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has informed the Madras high court that the decision to build old age homes with temples' funds was taken only after the approval of local MLAs and people.
The state government issued a GO through a Hindu religious and charitable endowments department on January 12 to build old age homes in Chennai, Tirunelveli and Palani with Rs 16.30 crore from Sridevi Paliamman temple in Villivakkam, Rs 13.50 crore from Nellaiyappan temple, Rs 15.20 crore from Dhandayudhapani temple, respectively.
While the GO was in line with the state government's announcement in the assembly, activist TR Ramesh approached the Madras high court against the government's announcement.
When the case came up for hearing before the division bench comprising justices Krishnakumar and Thamilselvi, Ramesh's counsel argued that it was illegal to use temple funds without the temple trustees (arangavalar) getting no-objection from devotees. Of the three temples, trustees have been appointed only for Dhandayudhapani temple, it was further argued.
However, the advocate general appearing for the state government countered the argument that trustees had not been appointed in many temples for different reasons, but the local representatives (thakkar) had been elected. He clarified that only excess funds were used to build the old age homes with the consent from respective MLAs and the public. He said the state government had also allocated funds to temples and cited the release of Rs 130 crore under the Oru Kala Poojai scheme.
Recording the submissions, the bench asked the petitioner to include the trustees of Dhandayudhapani temple as respondents in the next hearing and directed both the parties to petition the Chief Justice to hear the case along with similar cases opposing building colleges using temple funds and melting temple gold jewels.