Amendments to the Religious Institutions (Custody, Investments and Lending or Borrowing of Moneys) Rules, 1963
The Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu issued G.O.Ms. No.83, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments (RE4-2), dated 17th February 2026, to amend the Religious Institutions (Custody, Investments and Lending or Borrowing of Moneys) Rules, 1963. The amendment replaces the investment options in rule 7(1), specifying permitted government securities and fixed deposits for religious institution funds.
What the amendment changes
The Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu issued G.O.Ms. No.83, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments (RE4-2), dated 17th February 2026. It substitutes clauses (a) and (b) of rule 7(1) of the Religious Institutions (Custody, Investments and Lending or Borrowing of Moneys) Rules, 1963.
The Governor of Tamil Nadu made the amendment using the powers under section 116(2) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959.
Permitted government securities
Rule 7(1), as amended, permits investment in the following securities:
- Promissory notes, debentures, stock or other securities of the Central Government.
- Promissory notes, National Savings Certificates, National Pension Savings Certificates, stock or other securities of the State Government.
Permitted fixed deposits
Rule 7(1), as amended, also permits fixed deposits for periods of at least 12 months and not more than 120 months in:
- A scheduled bank as defined in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
- The Tamil Nadu State Co-operative Bank Limited.
- Central District Co-operative Banks approved by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies for investment of local body funds.
- Co-operative Urban Banks.
- The Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Limited.
- The Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
Who is affected
The amended investment provisions affect religious institutions whose money is managed under the Religious Institutions (Custody, Investments and Lending or Borrowing of Moneys) Rules, 1963. Those responsible for placing religious institution funds must check that the security, bank, co-operative bank or government finance corporation falls within the listed categories and that a fixed deposit meets the permitted duration.
The notification concerns investment of religious institution money. It does not contain provisions about temple land ownership, sale, lease, transfer or property title, so it does not by itself change a buyer's or owner's rights in temple land.
Official publication
The amendment was published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary, No. 79, Part III, Section 1(a), on 17th February 2026. The notification number is No. SAO A-5(b)/2026.
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Common questions
Does this amendment change ownership or sale rules for temple land?
No temple land ownership, sale, lease, transfer or title provisions appear in the notification. It changes the permitted investment options for religious institution money.
How long can a permitted fixed deposit run?
A fixed deposit must be for at least 12 months and not more than 120 months.
Can religious institution funds be deposited in any Central District Co-operative Bank?
The bank must be approved by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies for investment of local body funds.
Are Tamil Nadu government finance corporations included?
Yes. The listed institutions include the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Limited and the Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
