Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Petition Challenging TN Hindu Religious And Charitable Endowments Act

The Supreme Court today (July 19) refused to entertain a petition challenging the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act of 1959 (HRCEA). The Court while dismissing the petition granted liberty to the petitioner to move the High Court. 

The bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud opined that the petitioners approach the High Court instead. The CJI stated that the High Court is competent to hear such matters and suggested that the petitioners file their case there.

" Why have you come to the Supreme Court, move the High Court...the High Court is competent to hear these matters. We have heard them judges, argued them as lawyers, just go there (High Court)" , the CJI stated.

The HRCEA governs the management of Hindu temples and religious institutions in the state of Tamil Nadu. The petitioners have filed the case under Article 32 of the  Constitution, arguing that the act violates their fundamental rights. They claimed that the law allows the state government to control and administer Hindu temples, which they believe goes against Articles 21, 25 and 26 of the Constitution.

Petitioner no. 1 is a retired army officer, working as an office bearer in Petitioner no.2 - Sarayu Foundation Public Charitable Trust. The petitioners had sought to strike down HRCEA in its entirety. 

Petitioners were represented by Advocates Anand Prasad, Vipin Tyagi and AOR Siddharth Sharma

Case Details : C.M. RAMAKRISHNAN VS. STATE OF TAMIL NADU W.P.(C) No. 000436 / 2024