The temples and maths under the board have 4.78 lakh acres of different types of agricultural land. (File picture for representation)
The HR&CE Board, created by a separate Act of the Government of Tamil Nadu, is in charge of over 38,000 temples and mutts across the state.
Since May 2021, the Hindu and Religious Charitable Endowment Board (HR&CE) has restored 4501.82 acres of agricultural land, 809.21 acres of vacant plots, 156.12 buildings’ grounds and 134.04 temples’ tank dams. The total value of these properties is approximately Rs 4,236 crore. ,
The HR&CE Board, created by a separate Act of the Tamil Nadu government, is in charge of over 38,000 temples and mutts across the state. The temples and maths under the board have 4.78 lakh acres of different types of agricultural land.
A senior HR&CE official said, “The properties belonging to religious institutions, which are under the control of the HR&CE department, are compared with the properties uploaded on the ‘Tamil Neelam’ website.”
Out of the total extent of land-property, 3.43 lakh acres of land exactly matches with ‘Tamil Neelam’ website, and these figures have been recently released on the website.
“Besides, the land details which are partially matched with the Tamil Nilam portal and items which are not available on the portal are also being collected/reconciled. The religious institutions are preferring to appeal before the competent authority of the revenue department to modify the partially matched cases into fully matched cases to make suitable rectifications,” the official said.
Temples earn fair rent for their properties by renting them out to various classes. “There are 21,933 buildings, 70,738 vacant lots and 39,191 agricultural lands belonging to religious institutions, and they have been leased out. From July 1, 2022 to March 21, 2023, a rent of Rs 117.63 crore has been collected from these properties.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 provides for determination of fair rent for buildings and sites belonging to religious and charitable institutions under section 34A of the Act.
“Accordingly, a committee consisting of Regional Joint Commissioner, Executive Officer or Trustee or Chairman, Board of Trustees and District Registrar of Registration Department is engaged in the process of fixing fair rent for buildings and sites used for commercial and residential purposes. objective,” the official said.
A total of 7,192 cases are pending before the Revenue Courts, out of which 3,463 cases have been disposed of till March 28, 2023. Arrears amounting to Rs 781.31 lakh was ordered and an amount of Rs 266.12 lakh has been collected.
Protecting the land-property of religious institutions, recovering the encroachments, expediting the recovery of dues of proper rent and lease amount and establishing coordination with the Revenue Department, retired officers, four deputy collectors, 13 tehsildars, seven surveyors And eight village administrative officers have been put on consolidated pay.
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