FIR against 19 for illegal registration of trust properties meant for Meenakshi Amman temple

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against 19 individuals for illegally registering properties belonging to a trust established to serve the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple and Alagarkoil. The case comes to light following a complaint filed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, which oversees religious institutions in Tamil Nadu. According to Ramesh, the minister heading the HR&CE Department, the properties in question span 1.79 acres and were fraudulently registered in 2021. Their estimated guideline value ranges between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore, whereas their current market valuation stands at approximately ₹60 crore. The FIR was registered based on a complaint submitted by K. Chelladurai, the Executive Officer of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. The trust in question, known as the Pudukottai Rajakumarar Dakshinamurthy Durairaja Durairani Trust, was established in 1930. It owns a bungalow called Ashoka Vilas and an adjacent garden located on Alagarkoil Road in Madurai. As per the terms outlined in the trust's will, these properties can be leased out but cannot be mortgaged or sold. The HR&CE Department alleges that this rule was violated when the properties were reportedly sold under dubious circumstances. This act, according to the ministry, undermines the religious services supported by the trust, including the daily offering of curd rice to Goddess Meenakshi and its distribution among eight devotees, the offering of sundal to Mukkurni Pillaiyar, the conduct of Sahasranama Archana during Navaratri, and the performance of archana at the Kallalagar Temple every Saturday. The controversy began when the title to the trust’s property on Hakkeem Ajamalkhan Road in Ward 10 was removed and transferred to nine individuals by the Tahsildar of Madurai North. On June 24, 2016, the Tahsildar issued pattas, land ownership documents, in the names of these individuals. Following this incident, the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) was suspended, and departmental proceedings were initiated against the Tahsildar. The issue was also escalated to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). In response, an appeal was filed before the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) in Madurai, who overturned the Tahsildar’s decision and ordered the restoration of the patta in the name of the temple. A subsequent petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on March 22, 2021, leading to an interim stay being granted. Despite the HR&CE Department sending notices to the Sokkikulam Sub-Registrar and the Madurai District Registrar not to register any property belonging to the temple, attempts were still made to transfer the property. One such attempt to register the property at the Thirumayam Sub-Registrar’s Office was thwarted after the temple authorities raised concerns. Nevertheless, those who had acquired pattas in their names allegedly formed a criminal conspiracy and proceeded to register the property at the Murappanadu Sub-Registrar’s Office in Tirunelveli district on April 4, 2021. The Executive Officer has requested action against the revenue officials who allegedly did not inform the temple authorities about the registration, along with those involved in the illegal registration process. The trust's properties have long been central to the religious practices at the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of the most revered sites in South India. The allegations of fraudulent registration have sparked concern over the integrity of the administrative processes governing religious endowments. The HR&CE Department has emphasized its commitment to retrieving the properties through legal channels, underscoring the importance of preserving the sanctity of religious trusts and their assets.