Topic
The Supreme Court held that a gift of temple inam land by a temporary trustee is void under Section 41(1) of the TN HRCE Act, 1959 because the Act permits no sanction for such gifts. It directed the government to pay enhanced lease rent of ₹31,000 per month from March 8, 2019, with arrears payable in three months and ₹1 lakh costs within eight weeks.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that proceedings cannot be withdrawn under repealed provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Act merely to invoke amended provisions, unless no vested rights are affected. The Court also affirmed the authority of a Founder Family Member to issue eviction notices for exempted institutions, reinforcing statutory compliance in religious endowment disputes.
Karnataka High Court rules that hereditary temple servants (Sannidhi Paricharaka) cannot be barred from performing religious duties due to non-contagious vitiligo, reinforcing constitutional equality under Article 14. The court permits regulated delegation of duties while prohibiting discrimination based on medical conditions unrelated to ritual competence.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that a third-party petitioner lacks locus standi to seek a writ of mandamus for removal of encroachments on temple land under the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987. The court directed authorities to protect the temple properties while dismissing the petition.