CHENNAI: A move by the state Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to ban ‘non-believers’ from using temple properties have atheists and rationalists up in arms. The circular issued by temple custodians prohibits ‘non-believers’ from hiring marriage halls or leasing out shops on premises owned by temples.

“The properties might be owned by the temples but ultimately the government is the custodian of all properties and should be available to all. The order should be revoked immediately,” Dravida Kazhagam (DK) leader K Veeramani told TOI over the phone.

The provocation for the circular appears to be a farmers’ wing meeting held at a marriage hall in a village in Tiruvarur district two months ago.

The meeting, which apparently raised pro-rationalist slogans, caused a furore in the district and representations were given to the chief minister’s cell and the HR&CE department against leasing or renting out temple property to atheists.

Following this, a circular was sent to all temple executives advising them not to rent out properties to non-believers. The circular also banned renting out of temple property to functions in which liquor and non-vegetarian food are served.

Justifying the circular, a senior official said, “As the property is in the name of a temple or its presiding deity, we cannot allow meetings or gatherings that criticise religion or speak against the belief in God. Such meetings can be held in any other government or private property but not on a temple property. This goes against religious ethos.”

The circular specifies that the property either on the temple premises or outside it should be rented out only for religious discourses or for any other spiritual purposed only.

DK leader Veeramani threatened to move court if the government did not withdraw the circular as soon as possible.

