Tamil Development, Religious Endowments and Information Department Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Demand No.47 Policy Note 2012-2013 Index Page S. No. Subject No. 1 Introduction 1 2 Administration 3 3 Hindu Religious Institutions 4 4 Classification Of The Hindu Religious 4 Institutions 5 Administrative Structure 5 6 Regional And District Administration 8 7 Inspectors 12 ii Page S. No. Subject No. 8 Personal Assistants 12 9 Verification Officers 13 10 Audit Officers 13 11 Senior Accounts Officers 13 12 Engineers 14 13 Executive Officers 16 14 The Administration Of Mutts 17 15 High Level Advisory Committee 17 16 Appointment Of Trustees 18 17 Jurisdiction 19 18 Appointment Of Fit Person 21 19 Land Administration 21 20 Fixation Of Fair Rent 22 21 Revenue Courts 23 22 Retrieval Of Lands 24 23 Removal Of Encroachments 25 iii Page S. No. Subject No. 24 Regularizing The Group 25 Encroachments 25 Annadhana Scheme 26 26 Spiritual And Moral Classes 28 27 Special Poojas And Common Feasts 28 28 Elephant Rejuvenation Camps 29 29 Marriage Scheme For Poor And 30 Downtrodden 30 Cable Cars 31 31 Battery Cars 32 32 Thiruppani 33 33 Donation 34 34 Temple Funds 35 35 Diversion Of Funds 35 36 Government Grant 35 37 Common Good Fund 36 38 Temple Development Fund 36 iv Page S. No. Subject No. 39 Village Temples Renovation Fund 37 40 Temple Renovation And Charitable 37 Fund 41 Donor Works 38 42 Renovation For The Temples In The 38 Habitations Of Adi Dravida And Tribal Community 43 Finance Commission Fund 39 44 Tourism Fund 39 45 Uzhavarapani 40 46 Consecration Of Temples 41 47 Renovation Of Temple Tanks And 42 Rain Water Harvesting 48 Revival Of Kaala Poojas In Ancient 43 Temples 49 Oru Kaala Pooja Scheme 43 50 Maintanence Of Temple Cars 45 v Page S. No. Subject No. 51 Temple With Golden Cars And Silver 46 Cars 52 Basic Amenities 54 53 Temple Cleanliness 55 54 Distribution Of Sarees & Dhotis 55 55 Safety of Icon And Valuables 56 56 Temple Protection Force 58 57 Karunai Illangal 59 58 Educational Institutions 62 59 Social Welfare Institutions 69 60 Basic Amenities For Schools And 71 Colleges 61 Kosalas 71 62 Temples And Tamil 72 63 Festivals Of Saints And Savants 72 64 Chithirai Thirunal – Tamil New Year 76 Day vi Page S. No. Subject No. 65 Thalavaralaru And Thalapuranam 77 66 Pilgrim Guides 77 67 Thirukoil Monthly 78 68 Publishing Agama Books And Other 78 Books In Tamil 69 Chartered Engineers 79 70 Sthapathis 79 71 Refresher Training Course 80 72 Training On Human Values 80 73 Appointment Of Musicians 80 74 Welfare Schemes For The Temple 81 Employees 75 Educational Aids For The Children Of 89 Temple Employees 76 Village Poosaris Welfare Board 89 77 Conclusion 90 78 Annexure - Part II Scheme 94 Tamil Development, Religious Endowments and Information Department Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Demand No.47 Policy Note 2012-2013 Introduction “ÏiwfnshL Ïirªj Ï‹g« Ï‹g¤njhL Ïirªj thœÎ” “Felicity combined with A divine life is a bliss” Thus spake the great Saint Sundara Moorthy Nayanar describing the indispensable role of temples in the life of Tamils. The temples in Tamilnadu are the Holy Shrines for the countless devotees and tourists far and wide in India and abroad. They are instrumental in creating order in 2 the society guiding unity among the public, besides being an encyclopedia for morals in life. They are also historical monuments propagating art, culture and civilization of the Tamils. 2. Our Government headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma is showing keen interest in maintaining, protecting and preserving ancient socio religious cultural centres of Tamil Nadu. 3. Tamil Nadu has innumerable Shaivite Temples, Vaishnavite Temples, abodes of Lord Muruga, popular Amman temples, Village temples etc. most of the temple properties have been endowed by the benevolent people at all levels from Kings to common men. The bounden duty and responsibility of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department lies in protecting and preserving the movable and immovable properties belonging to the temples. 3 Administration 4. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act was enacted in the year 1959 realizing the fact that the administrative governance of Hindu Religious Endowments are to be monitored by the Government after carrying out the required modifications by examining the various enactments between the year 1928 and 1956. 5. This Act prescribes the rights and duties of the Commissioner and other subordinate officers of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. It also states various means for improving the administration of the Hindu Religious Institutions. This Act further empowers the Government to extend the provisions for the Jain Religious Institutions and Endowments. 4 Hindu Religious Institutions 6. There are 38,491 Hindu Religious and Jain Religious Institutions under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The details are as follows: Institutions Numbers Temples 36,451 Holy Mutts 56 Temples attached to Holy Mutts 57 Specific Endowments 1,721 Charitable Endowments 189 Jain temples 17 Total 38,491 Classification Of The Hindu Religious Institutions 7. The Hindu Religious Institutions have been classified as listed and non-listed institutions based on the annual income. The details are as follows: 5 Annual Classification Number Income Non listed having an 34,265 Institutions annual income U nder Section of less than 49(1) Rs.10,000/- Listed having an 3,563 Institutions annual income Under Section of Rs.10,000/- 46(i) and less than Rs.2 lakhs. Under Section having an 464 46(ii) annual income of Rs. 2 lakhs and less than Rs. 10 lakhs. Under Section having an 199 46(iii) annual income of Rs.10 lakhs and above. Total 38,491 Administrative Structure 8. The Commissioner in the cadre of Indian Administrative Service, functions as the 6 responsible administrative head of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to maintain, protect and monitor the administration of the Hindu Religious Institutions according to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act,1959 (Amended Act 39/1996). 9. In order to assist the Commissioner, in the activities such as general administration, establishment and management of movable and immovable properties of these institutions etc., the following officers are serving in the headquarters: Post Number Additional Commissioner (General) 1 Additional Commissioner (Enquiry) 1 Joint Commissioner (Head 1 Quarters) Joint Commissioner (Thiruppani) 1 Deputy Commissioner (Legal Cell) 1 Deputy Commissioner (Educational 1 and Charitable Institutions) Assistant Commissioner (Legal 1 cell) 7 Assistant Commissioner 1 (verification) Assistant Commissioner (Village 1 Temple Poosarigal Welfare Board) The list of officers serving in the headquarters from other departments are as below: Post Number Department Special Officers 2 Revenue (Temple Lands) Department (District Revenue Officer cadre) Superintending 1 Public Works Engineer Department Executive 1 Public Works Engineer Department Assistant 1 Public Works Divisional Department Engineer Assistant Engineer 2 Public Works Department Assistant Engineer 1 Electricity (Electrical) Department Senior Drafting 1 Public Works Officer Department Junior Draftsman 2 Public Works Department Draftsman 2 Public Works Department 8 Senior Accounts 1 Treasury Officer Department Assistant Accounts 1 Treasury Officer Department Chief Audit Officer 1 Finance (Deputy Secretary Department cadre) Regional And District Administration 10. The administration of this Department has been divided into 11 regions and 28 divisions. Each region is administered by a Joint Commissioner and each division is administered by an Assistant Commissioner. The details are as follows: Jurisdiction of Officers Region Division Jurisdiction Joint 1. Assistant Chennai Commissioner Commissioner District Chennai Chennai Joint 2. Assistant Thiruvallur Commissioner Commissioner District Vellore Thiruvallur 9 Region Division Jurisdiction 3. Assistant Kancheepuram Commissioner District Kancheepuram 4. Assistant Vellore District Commissioner Vellore Joint 5. Assistant Dharmapuri Commissioner Commissioner and Krishnagiri Salem. Dharmapuri Districts 6. Assistant Salem District Commissioner Salem 7. Assistant Namakkal Commissioner District Namakkal Joint 8. Assistant Coimbatore Commissioner Commissioner and Nilgiris Coimbatore Coimbatore Districts 9. Assistant Erode District Commissioner Erode 10. Assistant Tiruppur Commissioner District Tiruppur 10 Region Division Jurisdiction Joint 11. Assistant Thanjavur Commissioner Commissioner District Thanjavur Thanjavur (Except Thiruvidaimaru thur and Kumbakonam Taluks 12. Assistant Nagapattinam Commissioner District Nagapattinam (Except Sirkali, Mayiladuthurai and Tharangam- badi Taluks) 13. Assistant Thiruvarur Commissioner District Thiruvarur Joint 14. Assistant Thiruvidaimaru Commissioner Commissioner thur, Mayiladuthurai Kumbakonam Kumbakonam Taluks in Thanjavur District and Mayiladuthurai Sirkali and Tharangambadi Taluks in Nagapattinam District 11 Region Division Jurisdiction 15.Assistant Cuddalore Joint Commissioner District Commissioner Cuddalore Villupuram 16. Assistant Villupuram Commissioner District Villupuram 17. Assistant Thiruvanna- Commissioner malai District Thiruvanna - malai Joint 18. Assistant Tiruchirappalli Commissioner Commissioner District Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli 19. Assistant Perambalur Commissioner and Ariyalur Ariyalur