Tamil Nadu forms committee to select Hindu temple trustees

The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has constituted a seven-member state-level committee to select non-hereditary trustees for temples with an annual income exceeding Rs 10 lakh.

Sivagnana Palaya Swamigal of Mailam Bommapura Aadheenam will chair the committee, with retired District and Sessions Judge Dr. K. Ramanathan serving as vice-chairman. The panel includes retired IAS officer PR Sampath, spiritual speaker Sumathi Sri, singer T. Velmurugan, and film producer Archana Kalpathi Aghoram. The HR&CE Commissioner will act as the ex-officio member and secretary.

The committee is tasked with scrutinizing applications and preparing a list of eligible candidates for appointments under Section 46(iii) of the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Act, 1959. This new committee follows the expiration of the previous panel's tenure on July 24, 2026.