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Court ne Temple Fund Diversion Order par uthaye sawaal
Madras High Court abhi Tamil Nadu sarkar ke ek naye directive ko closely examine kar raha hai. Is order ke hisaab se, temples ke extra paison ko do state-run Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) mein daala ja sakta hai. Ek Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argue kar raha hai ki ye order religious endowments ko ₹2,700 crore tak ke financial risk mein daal sakta hai aur Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 ke khilaaf hai. Court ko government ki reasoning par kaafi doubt hai aur woh pooch rahe hain ki jab normal banks available hain toh in specific NBFCs ki kya zaroorat hai.
State-run NBFCs mein Financial Risks
Ye government order, jo February 17, 2026 se effective hoga, Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (TNPFC) aur Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Limited (TNTDFC) mein investment ki permission deta hai. Petitioners ka kehna hai ki ye move temple assets ko government initiatives fund karne ke liye use kar raha hai, jo temple properties ko manage aur protect karne ke main kaam se alag hai. TNPFC ki investigations mein BBB(-) ki low credit rating aur accounting irregularities saamne aayi hain, jaise ki incorrect deposit classifications aur bade disputed tax liabilities. Wahi, TNTDFC par loss-making state transport companies ko loan dene aur inadequate financial provisions ke liye criticism hui hai. Is amendment mein credit ratings, depositor protection measures, aur formal risk assessments jaise important cheezein nahi hain, jisse funds galat istemaal hone ka khatra hai.
Legal Challenge aur Court ke sawaal
Senior Advocate Ravi Seshadri, jo petitioner ke taraf se represent kar rahe hain, ne bataya ki ye NBFCs pehle temple funds invest karne ke liye authorized nahi thi aur amendment se pehle legal notice bhi issue kiya gaya tha. Court ne seedhe sawaal poochhe hain ki government ne in specific NBFCs ko kyu choose kiya, khaas kar jab TANGEDCO jaise entities ke financial concerns hain, jo resources par strain ki taraf ishara karta hai. Deposits ke liye government guarantee ki absence aur Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines ke potential non-compliance par bhi sawaal uthaye gaye hain. Jab lagbhag ₹2,700 crore temple deposits renew hone wale hain, toh court se in transactions ko rokne ki appeal ki gayi hai. Case ki further hearings scheduled hain. State ka ye decision, khaas kar un NBFCs ke liye jinki financial weaknesses aur limited oversight hai, religious trusts ke liye standard financial management practices se ek bada change hai. Ye approach normal regulatory expectations se alag hai, jo generally highly regulated aur stable financial institutions ko prefer karta hai. Potential financial loss aur religious implications ko dekhte hue, court ka involvement accountability aur temple assets ko safeguard karne ke liye crucial hai.