'Stop Benefits To HRCE Officers Till Resolution Of Audit Objections Against Them', Says Temple Activist TR Ramesh In Notice To Department

Temple activist TR Ramesh today (5 July) issued a notice to the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) department.

The notice asks them to stop promotions, increments and retirement of officers who have audit objections against them for decisions taken and offences committed by them in respect to temples when they were posted as Executive Officers, 'Fit Persons' of temples or by directing junior officials.

The nature of offences mentioned in the notice are violations of the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Act, 1959, the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988 and those under Sections 120-B, 405, 406, 408 and 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

He added that providing them with such benefits would be inappropriate and unethical.

In his tweet, Ramesh mentioned that there are 1.5 million audit objections in temple audit reports which are yet to be resolved as required by the law.

The notice has been issued in his capacity as president of the Temple Worshippers Society and Indic Collective Trust.