Retired Tamil Nadu temple officers await benefits amid audit disputes

At least 50 retired executive officers of Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department are waiting for terminal benefits while audit objections against them remain unresolved, according to former officers. The retirees say some objections concern minor expenses and administrative errors. Examples cited include additional firewood purchased for a temple kitchen, missing receipts for departmental payments and festival expenditure exceeding an approved amount.

Former officers also said they had been held responsible for errors in expenditure reports. In one example, a payment of ₹10,000 was reportedly recorded as ₹1,00,000, even though the receipt and bank statement were produced. Jeganathan of the Tamil Nadu Temple Executive Officers Federation said officers who retired from April 2019 onwards faced delays in settling their benefits.

He said some retirees depended on their children, while one had taken hourly work at a textile unit. He said two former officers had died without being able to meet medical expenses. A group of retirees is planning a protest with begging bowls next month, he added.

The federation also said serving officers faced delays in receiving salaries after transfers between districts. Former federation president V. Vetriselvan said audit objections were not being settled within a prescribed timeframe.

Official sources in the department said two committees had been formed to review the objections. They said cases would be closed at the earliest where replies were genuine and supported by relevant orders.