CHENNAI: Hindu religious and charitable endowments minister P K Sekar Babu said the Tamil Nadu government would take efforts to ensure that pujas are offered in Tamil in temples under his department.
The minister said around 200 non-brahmin priests, who completed the one-year junior Saiva archakar course as per Agamas, would happen within 100 days of the present government.
“The chief minister (M K Stalin) will speak through his action.
It will bring happiness to everyone,” the minister said on Monday while responding to a question on the appointment of non-brahmin priests in HR&CE temples.
Former chief minister M Karunanidhi’s government launched the course in six temples in 2007, giving an opportunity for any Hindu to become a priest irrespective of caste.
On retrieval of 5.5 acres of land belonging to the Vadapani Murugan temple in Chennai, the minister said the land would be used for the benefit of society.
“The CM will make an announcement on what kind of amenities will come on the piece of land that was retrieved.” The land had been given on lease for 29 years.
He said none could claim ownership of the temple land and said more than 220 houses had been constructed on temple land in Mylapore.
“The land will be brought under the department’s control, while the people who built the houses will be treated as tenants as per the provision of the HR & CE Act,” he said.