Unicaus NEWS
Justice G.R. Swaminathan ordered an interim injunction and notice to the Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department and Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.
The court was hearing the petition filed by S. Vijaynarayanan of Chennai who sought the quashing of the G.O. issued by the Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department.
The petitioner said the G.O. enables the appropriation of temple built facilities and their projection as government undertakings by transferring the management to Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation. The Yatri Nivas cottages constructed from temple funds and endowments contributed by devotees were being rebranded and operated under the TTDC’s commercial names such as ‘Hotel Tamil Nadu’ and ‘Hotel Aalayam’.
By such rebranding, the government has misrepresented the temple funded religious facilities as State owned hospitality projects, thereby misleading the public into believing that these amenities were created and maintained by the government, he said.
In truth, the entire capital expenditure, including that of the land, construction, equipment, amenities and maintenance is borne by the respective temples, while TTDC merely operates the facilities under its tourism banner and appropriates a share of the profits. This exercise not only dilutes the religious and charitable identity of temple institutions but also politicises temple administration as the government portrays itself as the provider of services which were actually funded by devotees and temple endowments, the petitioner said.
He sought a direction to the authorities to restore and retransfer the management and control of Yatri Nivas cottages constructed out of surplus temple funds to the respective temple trustees or fit persons.
Published – December 08, 2025 11:22 pm IST
