Chennai, July 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a move aimed at bringing greater uniformity and administrative oversight to temple management, the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has introduced a comprehensive set of guidelines regulating the installation and consecration of new temple flagstaff in temples under its control.
Under the new framework, obtaining prior approval from the HR&CE Commissioner has been made mandatory before any such work can begin.
The guidelines, issued by HR&CE Commissioner T.G. Vinay, seek to ensure that all flagstaff installations are carried out strictly in accordance with Agama traditions while also following a uniform administrative procedure across the State.
The department said the new system is intended to strengthen transparency, standardise decision-making and prevent deviations from established temple practices.
According to the circular, temple authorities must submit proposals to the Commissioner at least 15 days before the proposed installation or consecration of a new flagstaff. No work can commence until formal approval has been granted by the Commissioner.
The department has also introduced multiple levels of scrutiny before a proposal is forwarded for approval. Every application must include resolutions adopted by the respective regional and district-level committees, making collective institutional scrutiny an essential part of the approval process.
In addition, the opinion of the Regional Sthapathi has been made compulsory to ensure that every proposal complies with Agama principles and meets the required architectural and technical standards. Temple authorities must also submit comprehensive documentation, including details of the temple, technical reports, site plans, photographs and other prescribed records to enable a thorough examination by the department.
The circular further prescribes detailed procedures to be followed before, during and after the consecration ceremony.
Officials have been instructed to ensure that every stage of the installation adheres to traditional Agama practices, established temple customs and the administrative norms laid down by the department.
Proper documentation and maintenance of records throughout the process have also been made mandatory.
Explaining the rationale behind the new guidelines, the Commissioner said the objective is to streamline the process of installing temple flagstaff while ensuring consistency in administrative decisions across all HR&CE-managed temples.
Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Executive Officers have been directed to strictly enforce the new rules and ensure that no installation or consecration is carried out without securing the mandatory approvals from the department.
Source: IANS
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