Report irregularities, misdeeds in TN temples, HR & CE Minister tells public

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu HR&CE Minister S Ramesh on Friday appealed to the public to report irregularities, cash-for-jobs, and other misdeeds in the temples under the department’s administrative control.

The Minister, who recently exposed an illegal transaction involving temple staff to facilitate quick darshan for devotees at a shrine in Tiruchendur during his inspection, called upon the people to send their complaints to his e-mail address: minister_hrce@tn.gov.in, substantiating their complaints with proof.

They can inform him about irregularities, illegal receipt of money, bribery for temple renovations and employment in temples, etc., in the shrines under the control of the HR&CE Department in the state, he said.

"I wish to inform you that my office and I will take immediate steps to take action on these complaints," Ramesh said in a post on ‘X’.

His appeal comes in the wake of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay assuring to provide clean and corruption-free administration.

In June, the ruling TVK cancelled the administrative sanctions for 46 temple projects, including 29 marriage halls and 17 commercial complexes, totally worth Rs 246 crore that were approved by the previous DMK regime, saying temple funds should not be used for commercial projects.

Also, the state government cancelled a multi-level car parking project in Coonoor proposed to be established by the previous DMK government using temple funds, stating that the devotees visiting temples required civic amenities and that temples should not fund the civic body's projects.