TN temples regain land, property

Land and property worth about Rs 600 crore belonging to temples in Tamil Nadu have been retrieved in the past two years, in a continuing crackdown in the state, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Minister M S M Anandan has said.

The illegally appropriated land, plots and buildings have been restored to the respective shrines included 397.51 acres, Anandan told the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s resolute action against land-grabbers had made this restoration possible, Anandan said while replying to a House debate on the demands for grants for HR and CE Department.

Another feat was identifying nearly 999 acres belonging to 188 temples that was in the names of “private individuals” and retransferring the title deeds to the respective temples.  

Vast stretches of lands had been given as “grants” to temples across the state by kings and benefactors of yore, which were the only sizeable assets base of temples in modern Tamil Nadu, Anandan said.

No temple land was assigned, leased or sold to private parties.