Tamil Nadu Government Initiates Non-Hereditary Trustee Appointments for Temples
New Initiative for Temple Administration
Representational Image(Photo: @ArchanaNikhar/X)
Chennai, July 22: The government of Tamil Nadu has embarked on a significant initiative to appoint non-hereditary trustees for 8,193 temples overseen by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. This announcement invites applications from qualified individuals throughout the state.
This initiative, revealed by the HR&CE Department on Tuesday, aims to enhance the management of temples lacking hereditary trustees.
Appointments will be conducted under Section 49(1) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, which grants the government the authority to form boards of trustees for temples managed by the department.
As per an official statement, comprehensive notifications detailing the list of temples, eligibility criteria, application processes, and required formats have been made available on the HR&CE Department's official website.
The department encourages interested candidates to thoroughly review the guidelines prior to submitting their applications.
Applicants have the option to complete the application process online or by downloading the necessary form from the website.
Completed applications, along with supporting documents, can be submitted in person at the office of the Assistant Commissioner of the HR&CE Department in the respective district or sent via Speed Post.
The deadline for application submission has been set for 5:45 p.m. on August 20.
Officials have advised applicants to ensure that all required documents are included and that applications reach the designated offices before the deadline to prevent rejection.
This latest notification is part of a broader initiative by the state government to fill trustee positions in temples under the HR&CE Department through a systematic approach.
Previously, notifications were issued for the appointment of non-hereditary trustees for 1,012 temples in an earlier phase. Additionally, district-level committees have been established in 14 districts to assist in the appointment process and oversee the selection of qualified candidates.
These committees are expected to play a crucial role in reviewing applications and ensuring that appointments adhere to the provisions of the HR&CE Act.
Officials indicated that this phased appointment process aims to enhance temple governance, improve administrative efficiency, and ensure better management of religious institutions operating under the HR&CE Department.
Upon completion, this initiative is anticipated to provide administrative support to numerous temples across Tamil Nadu while ensuring uniform adherence to statutory procedures governing trustee appointments.