Oh God! How do we manage temple assets
Arrest of Vadapalani temple executive officer raises concerns.
Chennai: Not many are aware that temple officials in Tamil Nadu air-dash to Mumbai to melt the gold donated to deities by devotees. This is a usual practice for years resorted to by temple officials and staff, of course at the expense of temple revenue.
And when the Crime Branch-CID sleuths arrested a senior official of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR & CE) department, the incident raised concerns over the safe custody of the jewels, gold and other properties donated to the temples by the devotees.
“Usurping temple lands, non-payment of arrears and embezzlement of temple jewelry by officials in the wake of the Sri Oppiliappan temple incident has only raised the apprehensions of the people on the mode of administration.
Introducing transparency in administration particularly in constituting an autonomous body comprising representatives from various Hindu organisations and elders would go a long way in ensuring higher accountability levels,” says Ramagopalan, Hindu Munnani founder-convenor. The autonomous board would be set up under a retired judge. Posting officials and staff having faith in the religion could help to safeguard the god’s properties, he adds.
Three years ago, a verification officer of the rank of assistant commissioner A. Elamparithi, at Sri Uppiliappan temple, accompanied by few others went to Mumbai to melt the gold. He returned only to inform the higher-ups about the diamonds that went missing. Following a plaint by the temple trustees, the CB-CID team arrested Elamparithi, now posted as executive officer (EO) of the Andavar temple, Vadapalani, here.
The present EO of Uppiliappan temple also complained that the original precious stones, gold and diamond jewels belonging to the temple were replaced with fake jewels. When contacted, a senior HR & CE official said the department had taken up a mammoth task of computerising temple properties and also initiated measures to recover rent arrears due from tenants. “The temple officials have also been directed to verify jewelry and update their registers,” the official added.