Use of Temple Funds for Social Justice in Tamil Nadu
(Source: The Indian Express, Editorial Page)
Also Read: The Indian Express Editorial Analysis: 21 July 2025
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis: 21 July 2025
| Topic: GS2 – Indian Society (Social Justice); GS1 – Culture; GS2 – Governance |
| Context |
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Historical Legacy:
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British legislative framework allowed state oversight over secular aspects of religious endowments.
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Justice Party’s 1922 Hindu Religious Endowments Act set precedent for surplus funds’ use in social welfare.
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Legal Provisions:
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Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 permits surplus funds for education and welfare after temple maintenance is ensured.
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Constitutionality of this provision upheld by courts.
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Social Justice Context:
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Funding for community welfare, anti-caste movement, and inclusive priesthood emerged from such regulatory models.
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Temples as community and cultural centers, not purely ritualistic domains.
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Contemporary Debates:
- Balancing heritage, faith, and modern welfare; political attempts to polarize vs. integration for public good.
Conclusion/Way Forward:
Upholding government oversight ensures social justice and preserves the role of temples in public welfare; a reversal would threaten hard-won reforms.
| Practice Question: (GS-2 | 15 Marks | 250 Words) Discuss the constitutional and social justice dimensions of diverting religious endowment funds for secular purposes, with special reference to Tamil Nadu’s experience. |
