Tamil Nadu Restructures HR&CE Department into North and South Zones

In a major restructuring of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, the Tamil Nadu government has divided its administrative jurisdiction into North and South zones, appointing two IAS-rank Additional Commissioners with extensive supervisory powers over temple properties, finances, leases, encroachments and administration.

The restructuring was notified through a Gazette published on Monday, following a Government Order issued by the Commercial Taxes, Registration and Religious Endowments Department on July 23. The two Additional Commissioner posts, headquartered in Chennai and Tiruchy, have been sanctioned in the senior scale of the IAS.

The administrative revamp comes amid increased scrutiny over the management of religious and inam properties, following the recent Palani mutt land registration case and controversy surrounding restrictions imposed on inam lands, including those in Karur district.

Under the new structure, the Chennai-based Additional Commissioner will oversee the North Zone, covering Chennai and several northern and western districts, including Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Salem, Erode and Coimbatore.

The Tiruchy-based Additional Commissioner will oversee the South Zone, which includes districts such as Thanjavur, Madurai, Sivaganga, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

The Additional Commissioners have been authorised to inspect temple properties and documents, approve budgets, procurement tenders and certain property leases, and supervise various administrative functions.

They will also monitor revenue generated from temple lands, the collection of contributions and audit fees, pending cases, implementation of the Integrated Temple Management System, and efforts to identify and remove encroachments.

Orders issued by the Additional Commissioners on matters falling within their delegated authority will be treated as orders of the HR&CE Commissioner.

However, policy decisions and matters with wider implications for religious institutions across Tamil Nadu must continue to be referred to the HR&CE Commissioner.