Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department denies appointment

When contacted, R Pachaiyappan, Joint Commissioner, Madurai Region, HR&CE department, on Monday described the appointment issue as a rumour. 

He said he had been contacted by Madurai Collector K Veera Raghava Rao, who asked whether any such appointment was made. “The office of HR&CE Commissioner, besides several persons representing print and electronic media, also contacted me. I replied to everyone that no priest hailing from the non-Brahmin caste was appointed in any temple under the Madurai region,” Pachaiyappan said.

A total of 375 temples in Madurai, Theni and Dindigul districts which generate an annual revenue of Rs 10,000 and above are under the control of Joint Commissioner of HR&CE department (Madurai region).

Another 1,700 temples in these three districts with a revenue generation of less than Rs 10,000 is listed under the control of Assistant Commissioner of HR&CE department (Madurai region). “None of these temples have a priest from the non-Brahmin community,” Pachaiyappan said.