EXAMINING THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STATE GOVERNANCE AND HINDU TEMPLES IN INDIA: A CALL FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CLARITY BY: MS. TANVI MALPANI

[1] Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Policy Note 2022-23, www.tn.gov.in, 2022, https://www.tn.gov.in/documents/dept/32.

[2] Hindu Temples and Mutts form part of Hindu Religious Endowments.

[3] The Department is headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Government. The Commissioner is generally a person belonging to the State Judicial Services or other Services (Section 9 of the Tamil Nadu Act) and acts as a servant of the Government (Section 12 of the Tamil Nadu Act)

[4] Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, § 7(1)(a), No.22 Act of Tamil Nadu, 1959 (India).

[5] Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, § 92 (1), No.22 Act of Tamil Nadu, 1959 (India).

[6] Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, § 92 (2), No.22 Act of Tamil Nadu, 1959 (India).

[7] The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institution and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997

[8] Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987

[9] Kerala has four legislations: the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950; the Koodalmanickam Devaswom Act, 1971; the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, 1978; Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Act, 2008

[10] Appointed under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950

[11] The Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951

[12] The Orissa Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1969

[13] Constituted under the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959

[14] Under the Bihar Hindu Religious Trusts Act of 1950

[15] Commissioner Hindu Religious Endowments v. Sri Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar of Shirur Mutt (A.I.R. 1954 SC 282)

[16] Ratilal Panachand Gandhi v. The State of Bombay and Others, 1954 SCR 1035.

[17] A.I.R. 1958 SC 255

[18] A.I.R. 1963 SC 1638

[19] A.I.R. 1966 SC 1119

[20] A.I.R. 1984 SC 51

[21] 2018 (8) SCJ 609

[22] During the 2018 Shabarimala Case, Justice Chandrachud was not the Chief Justice of India