Will stop move of utilising surplus funds in HR&CEA dept for COVID-19 mitigation efforts

Chennai, May 4 (): The Tamil Nadu government on Mondayinformed the Madras High Court that it has decided to stop amove of utilizing Surplus fund lying with the Hindu Religiousand Charitable Endowments department for COVID-19 mitigationefforts and also to withdraw the circular in this regard.

M Karthikeyan, counsel for the HR&CE department made thissubmission when the plea moved by the publisher of a Tamildaily and others, challenging the April 24 circular, came upbefore the special bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and PushpaSathyanarayana.

"The circular is likely to be withdrawn and thedepartment is not insisting on any such contribution from suchtemples," Karthikeyan said to the bench, which conducted thehearing through video conference.

Recording the submission, the bench adjourned the matterto May 8 and directed Karthikeyan to produce the relevantorder passed by the commissioner of the department,withdrawing the circular.

"In the meanwhile, the department shall not act upon thecircular, against the temples included in the said circular,"the bench said.

The petitioners submitted that the HR&CE commissioner hadillegally issued a circular directing temples in thecategories specified to mandatorily contribute substantialamount from their surplus fund to the Chief Minister's publicrelief fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

They contended that the Commissioner has no authority toissue such a circular, particularly when these temples, "whichare under the orders of the government", have remained closedfor two months due to the lockdown.

"...And therefore there is no current flow of revenue inthese temples and such a circular is contrary to theapplicable law about surplus (funds) in temples, " thepetitioners said. COR APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH