Tamil Nadu opens trustee applications for 8,193 HR&CE temples by August 20
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu has opened applications for non-hereditary trustees across 8,193 HR&CE-administered temples in a single phase — the largest such exercise yet. With district committees already in place across 14 districts and a deadline of 20 August, the drive signals a structural push to close governance gaps in publicly managed temples across the state.
Key Takeaways
The Tamil Nadu government has invited applications for non-hereditary trustees to 8,193 temples under the HR&CE Department .
The last date for submission is 5:45 pm on 20 August ; applications accepted online and at district HR&CE offices via Speed Post.
Appointments will be made under Section 49(1) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.
An earlier phase had already notified trustee appointments for 1,012 temples .
District-level committees have been constituted in 14 districts to scrutinise applications and oversee selections.
The Tamil Nadu government has launched a state-wide drive to appoint non-hereditary trustees to 8,193 temples administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, inviting applications from eligible individuals across the state before a deadline of 5:45 pm on 20 August. The initiative, announced on Tuesday, 22 July, marks one of the largest single-phase trustee recruitment exercises undertaken by the department.
What the Notification Covers
The appointments will be governed by Section 49(1) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, which authorises the government to constitute boards of trustees for temples managed directly by the HR&CE Department. Detailed notifications listing eligible temples, application procedures, eligibility criteria, and prescribed formats have been published on the HR&CE Department's official website.
Applicants may submit their forms either through the department's online portal or by downloading the prescribed format and submitting it physically at the office of the Assistant Commissioner of the HR&CE Department in their respective district. Submissions via Speed Post are also accepted, provided they reach the concerned office before the deadline.
Part of a Phased Process
This latest notification is not the first of its kind. The HR&CE Department had previously issued notifications for the appointment of non-hereditary trustees to 1,012 temples in an earlier phase. Additionally, district-level committees have already been constituted in 14 districts to oversee the selection process and ensure compliance with statutory provisions.
These committees are expected to scrutinise incoming applications and facilitate appointments in accordance with the HR&CE Act's procedural requirements. Officials noted that the phased approach is designed to prevent administrative bottlenecks and allow for uniform implementation across the state's diverse temple landscape.
Why the Government Is Acting Now
A large number of temples under the HR&CE Department's jurisdiction have been functioning without duly constituted trustee boards, creating governance gaps in the management of religious and charitable assets. The current exercise aims to address this structural deficiency by filling trustee vacancies systematically.
Officials stated that once the process is complete, it is expected to strengthen administrative oversight, improve the day-to-day management of temple affairs, and ensure that the financial and religious activities of these institutions are conducted transparently under statutory supervision.
Key Deadlines and How to Apply
The last date for submission of applications is 5:45 pm on 20 August. The HR&CE Department has urged applicants to read the eligibility guidelines carefully before applying and to ensure all supporting documents are enclosed. Incomplete applications or those received after the deadline are liable to be rejected. Full details are available on the HR&CE Department's official website.
With over 8,000 temples now open for trustee appointments in a single notification phase, the exercise signals a significant push by the Tamil Nadu government to bring greater institutional accountability to the administration of publicly managed religious endowments.
Point of View
193 temples in a single phase — reflects how long the governance deficit in Tamil Nadu's publicly managed temples has been allowed to accumulate. The HR&CE Department controls one of the largest concentrations of religious endowment assets in India, yet trustee vacancies have persisted for years. The phased approach and district-level committee structure are steps in the right direction, but the real test will be whether the selection process remains free from political patronage — a concern that has dogged HR&CE appointments in the past. Transparent, criteria-based selection, rather than discretionary nomination, is what will determine whether this exercise improves temple governance or merely shuffles accountability.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department's trustee appointment drive?
The Tamil Nadu government has invited applications from eligible individuals to serve as non-hereditary trustees for 8,193 temples administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. The appointments will be made under Section 49(1) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act to fill governance gaps in temples that lack duly constituted trustee boards.
What is the last date to apply for the HR&CE temple trustee positions?
The deadline for submitting applications is 5:45 pm on 20 August. The department has warned that incomplete applications or those received after the deadline will be rejected.
How can candidates apply for the trustee positions?
Applicants can apply either through the HR&CE Department's official online portal or by submitting the prescribed application form physically at the office of the Assistant Commissioner of the HR&CE Department in their district. Submissions via Speed Post are also accepted, provided they reach the concerned office before the deadline.
Is this the first time Tamil Nadu has notified such trustee appointments?
No. The HR&CE Department had previously issued notifications for trustee appointments to 1,012 temples in an earlier phase. The current notification, covering 8,193 temples, is part of a phased, state-wide process to fill all pending trustee vacancies under the department.
Who will oversee the selection of trustees?
District-level committees already constituted in 14 districts will scrutinise applications and facilitate the appointment process, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.
