Free Hindu temples, Hindu deities and Hindu bhaktas from the HR&CE British Law.
Free Hindu temples, Hindu deities and Hindu bhaktas from the HR&CE British Law.
The Issue
TO:
Shri Narendra Modi Ji
Honourable Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), South Block,
New Delhi – 110011
And
Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal,
Honourable Minister of Law,
Room No. 24107, 4th Floor, Kartavya Bhawan-II,
New Delhi - 110001
RESPECTED PRIME MINISTER and LAW MINISTER,
SUBJECT: Memorandum and Petition on Behalf of 1,00,000+ Citizens Seeking the Abolition of State-Controlled Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Departments and the Restoration of Autonomous Temple Management to the Hindu Community. Free Hindu temples, Hindu deities and Hindu bhaktas from the HR&CE British Law.
We, the undersigned citizens of Bharat and Hindus all over the world, numbering over one lakh strong, humbly submit this petition to draw your urgent attention to a historic, constitutional, and religious grievance affecting the majority population of this nation: the persistent state control over Hindu temples and religious endowments.
Under British colonial rule, the East India Company and the subsequent British Crown administration faced recurring complaints regarding the misuse of temple funds, jewels, and vast land grants. To exert regulatory oversight, early framework mechanisms such as the Madras Regulation of 1817 and Act XX of 1863 were enacted. Driven by the Raja of Panagal, Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency, the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act was passed in 1923. Subsequently in 1925, the government officially constituted the Hindu Religious Endowments Board (HREB) as a statutory body comprising a President and Commissioners to supervise religious endowments and appoint temple administrators. Following recommendations from a non-official committee in 1942, the HREB was abolished and replaced under the Madras Act XIX of 1951, which transitioned temple management directly into an executive government department headed by a Commissioner. This statutory framework was further overhauled through the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act (Act 22 of 1959), which came into force on January 1, 1960. Today, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department functions as an administrative executive department of the State Government. This HR&CE law was written by British for slave India to control their temples. India or Bharat has got freedom on August 15th,1947 and it has been 78 years after freedom. But the Hindu temples and Hindu bhaktas are still abused under this British law even after freedom and never got freedom till date. Hindu temples, Hindu deities and Hindu bhaktas want freedom from this British law. Hindu temples are still under British rule.
In Bharat, the concept of state-run executive management boards—such as the HR&CE departments—applies strictly and exclusively to Hindu temples and shrines. The government has never established or abolished government-controlled executive departments for Christian and Muslim institutions. Instead, distinct constitutional protections and separate legal architectures have historically kept minority religions exempt from direct bureaucratic control. The government has never taken direct control over Christian churches, revenues, or internal appointments, and while the Waqf Board exists for Muslim properties, it operates within its own distinct autonomy without direct executive state management over places of worship.
The government has continuously maintained direct control over Hindu temples, their revenues, land, and internal appointments. Especially in states like Tamil Nadu, where anti-theistic and Dravidian political ideologies prevail, many sacred temples are not being managed properly and are treated merely as revenue-generating machines by the government rather than spiritual sanctuaries. Political interference in spiritual institutions must be abolished immediately to preserve the sanctity, traditions, and heritage of our sacred spaces.
Today we can’t even light a lamp on Thiruparamkundram temple. Even after filing a case in court and court allowing us to light the lamp, HR&CE did not allow us. Rare ancient paintings & sculptures were destroyed in various temples, under the guise of renovation. The destruction of cultural heritage and artefacts is cultural genocide. Also many rare metal murthis have been stolen and sold to outside world, has been found in America and European countries, valued as priceless antiques. It is alleged that persons, who are law unto themselves take control of the cash donations and no one can challenge them, as they have political power. It has been observed that the people, appointed by the board, install themselves, just outside the inner sanctum and harass the devotees. The devotees are unable to pray. In many temples, barricades are placed, preventing the devotees, to perform pradakshanam of Swamy. Cannot do namaskara at Dojastambham or flag post as per sastra. Also, access to other parts of the temple and parivara devatas has been denied to the devotees.
The Hindu community is fully capable of managing its own temples, institutions, and endowments, just as Christian and Muslim communities manage theirs autonomously. Therefore, we, hereby representing 1,00,000 signatories, petition your honoured office for the complete abolishment of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments departments across India and the restoration of temple management to autonomous, community-led devotional trusts.
Thank you.
Dated: October 20, 2026
Signed: 1,00,000+ Concerned Citizens of Bharat and Hindu Bhaktas of the World.
398
The Issue
TO:
Shri Narendra Modi Ji
Honourable Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), South Block,
New Delhi – 110011
And
Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal,
Honourable Minister of Law,
Room No. 24107, 4th Floor, Kartavya Bhawan-II,
New Delhi - 110001
RESPECTED PRIME MINISTER and LAW MINISTER,
SUBJECT: Memorandum and Petition on Behalf of 1,00,000+ Citizens Seeking the Abolition of State-Controlled Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Departments and the Restoration of Autonomous Temple Management to the Hindu Community. Free Hindu temples, Hindu deities and Hindu bhaktas from the HR&CE British Law.
We, the undersigned citizens of Bharat and Hindus all over the world, numbering over one lakh strong, humbly submit this petition to draw your urgent attention to a historic, constitutional, and religious grievance affecting the majority population of this nation: the persistent state control over Hindu temples and religious endowments.
Under British colonial rule, the East India Company and the subsequent British Crown administration faced recurring complaints regarding the misuse of temple funds, jewels, and vast land grants. To exert regulatory oversight, early framework mechanisms such as the Madras Regulation of 1817 and Act XX of 1863 were enacted. Driven by the Raja of Panagal, Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency, the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act was passed in 1923. Subsequently in 1925, the government officially constituted the Hindu Religious Endowments Board (HREB) as a statutory body comprising a President and Commissioners to supervise religious endowments and appoint temple administrators. Following recommendations from a non-official committee in 1942, the HREB was abolished and replaced under the Madras Act XIX of 1951, which transitioned temple management directly into an executive government department headed by a Commissioner. This statutory framework was further overhauled through the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act (Act 22 of 1959), which came into force on January 1, 1960. Today, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department functions as an administrative executive department of the State Government. This HR&CE law was written by British for slave India to control their temples. India or Bharat has got freedom on August 15th,1947 and it has been 78 years after freedom. But the Hindu temples and Hindu bhaktas are still abused under this British law even after freedom and never got freedom till date. Hindu temples, Hindu deities and Hindu bhaktas want freedom from this British law. Hindu temples are still under British rule.
In Bharat, the concept of state-run executive management boards—such as the HR&CE departments—applies strictly and exclusively to Hindu temples and shrines. The government has never established or abolished government-controlled executive departments for Christian and Muslim institutions. Instead, distinct constitutional protections and separate legal architectures have historically kept minority religions exempt from direct bureaucratic control. The government has never taken direct control over Christian churches, revenues, or internal appointments, and while the Waqf Board exists for Muslim properties, it operates within its own distinct autonomy without direct executive state management over places of worship.
The government has continuously maintained direct control over Hindu temples, their revenues, land, and internal appointments. Especially in states like Tamil Nadu, where anti-theistic and Dravidian political ideologies prevail, many sacred temples are not being managed properly and are treated merely as revenue-generating machines by the government rather than spiritual sanctuaries. Political interference in spiritual institutions must be abolished immediately to preserve the sanctity, traditions, and heritage of our sacred spaces.
Today we can’t even light a lamp on Thiruparamkundram temple. Even after filing a case in court and court allowing us to light the lamp, HR&CE did not allow us. Rare ancient paintings & sculptures were destroyed in various temples, under the guise of renovation. The destruction of cultural heritage and artefacts is cultural genocide. Also many rare metal murthis have been stolen and sold to outside world, has been found in America and European countries, valued as priceless antiques. It is alleged that persons, who are law unto themselves take control of the cash donations and no one can challenge them, as they have political power. It has been observed that the people, appointed by the board, install themselves, just outside the inner sanctum and harass the devotees. The devotees are unable to pray. In many temples, barricades are placed, preventing the devotees, to perform pradakshanam of Swamy. Cannot do namaskara at Dojastambham or flag post as per sastra. Also, access to other parts of the temple and parivara devatas has been denied to the devotees.
The Hindu community is fully capable of managing its own temples, institutions, and endowments, just as Christian and Muslim communities manage theirs autonomously. Therefore, we, hereby representing 1,00,000 signatories, petition your honoured office for the complete abolishment of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments departments across India and the restoration of temple management to autonomous, community-led devotional trusts.
Thank you.
Dated: October 20, 2026
Signed: 1,00,000+ Concerned Citizens of Bharat and Hindu Bhaktas of the World.
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Petition created on 20 October 2026