P.K. Sekar Babu. File
| Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh
Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) P.K. Sekarbabu on Thursday (July 10, 2025) hit back at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for questioning the department’s role in running educational institutions using temple funds.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Mr. Sekarbabu said, “It is highly condemnable that Mr. Palaniswami, unaware of the historical context, spoke like a mouthpiece of the BJP.”
The Minister said over 22,450 students are currently studying in 25 schools, one polytechnic, and nine arts and science colleges administered by the HR&CE department. Since the DMK assumed office, ₹132 crore has been spent on building additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and auditoriums in these institutions. Despite legal hurdles, four of the 10 new colleges announced by the department have been inaugurated, benefitting around 2,500 students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, he said.
Responding to Mr. Palaniswami’s remarks challenging the department’s authority to run educational institutions using temple funds, Mr. Sekarbabu said the core mission of the department also includes feeding the poor through annadanam, supporting education, and operating healthcare centres.
Quoting Chola-era inscriptions from the Thirumukkoodal temple, the Minister said there is historical precedent for temples running schools and hospitals. He added the HR&CE Act empowers the department to establish and manage educational institutions.
During Mr. Palaniswami’s tenure as Chief Minister, the AIADMK government spent several crores from temple funds to develop HR&CE-run colleges, he said, and pointed out that former Chief Ministers, including K. Kamaraj, M. Bhaktavatsalam, M. Karunanidhi, M.G. Ramachandran, and J. Jayalalithaa, had endorsed temple-administered educational initiatives.
Published – July 10, 2025 03:49 pm IST
