P-0145

Respected Madam,
Subject: Need for amendment of Tamil Nadu Endowments
Act and constitution of Dharmika Parishad for better Spiritual
administration of Temples.
It is an established fact that in many States, the Endowments
Department which was setup through legislation for better administration
of Temples, has failed with the Secular aspects overtaking
the Spiritual. The departments have in general been eager to takeover
high income temples and commercialize the same while low
income temples have been allowed to decay and in many cases their
assets have been looted ( lands encroached, Fixed Deposits encashed,
Ornaments stolen etc). In addition the Trust Boards/Management
Committee appointments have been political in nature with the result
that administration has been excessively politicized. This alarming
situation is prevalent in many States such as Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and our own State of Tamil Nadu is not an exception.
The Justice Rama Jois Committee which was formed to suggest
recommendations for amendments to the Karnataka Endowments
Act and which was also apprised of the situation of temples in
various states has recommended constitution of a Dharmika Parishad
for the entire state with eminent people as a solution to the above
problem. The Andhra Pradesh Select Committee which was constituted
to suggest amendments to the AP Endowments Act and which
had an occasion to study Justice Jois Committee recommendations
also suggested constitution of a Dharmika Parishad with eminent
people from all walks of life and bringing the Endowments administration
under its autonomous control. Over 40 Peetadhipathis in a resolution
at the conclusion of the TTD Dharma Prachara Sadas in June
2008 resolved that every State should amend its Endowments Act to
ensure constitution of a Dharmika Parishad as recommended by Justice
Rama Jois Committee. The Religious Endowments Commission
instituted by Pandit Nehru and headed by C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer has
also recommended the same and it is also pertinent to note here that
there is already a Central Wakf Act for Mosques which mandates
constitution of a Wakf Board in each State.
The Andhra Pradesh State has already amended its Endow-
áüß& 2011 £õg\á߯® 6