Chennai: The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the order issued by the previous DMK government to start colleges using temple funds, and has ruled that temple funds can be used for education.
Last October, the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department Secretary issued a government order granting permission to start colleges in four places: in Kolathur on behalf of the Chennai Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple, in Tiruchengode on behalf of the Tiruchengode Arthanareeswarar Temple using temple funds, in Ottanchatram using funds from the Palani Dhandayuthapani Temple, and in Vilathikulam on behalf of the Thiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple.
Chennai resident T.R. Ramesh had filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking a stay on this government order and asking for it to be quashed.
The case came up for hearing before a bench comprising Judges G. Jayachandran and I. Manoharan. At that time, Paranthiran, the lawyer appearing for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, said, “Using temple funds, colleges were established in Kolathur and Ottanchathiram, and three batches of students have completed their studies.
Colleges have not yet been established in Tiruchengode and Vilathikulam. Religious studies are being conducted in the colleges in Kolathur and Ottanchathiram,” he said.
The petitioner, T.R. Ramesh, stated that “the procedures for using temple funds to build colleges were not followed.”
After hearing arguments from both sides, the judges said, “Temple funds can be used for education,” and ordered the case dismissed.
The judges also stated that if additional funds are needed to build colleges in places such as Vilathikulam and Tiruchengode, government assistance may be sought, and noted in the order that the government itself may decide on building the remaining colleges.
