G.O. Ms No. 260, Amendments to the Management and Preservation of Properties of Religious Institutions Rules, 2022
The Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department issued G.O. Ms No. 260, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments (RE4-2), dated 31 October 2022, under which the Governor of Tamil Nadu amended the Management and Preservation of Properties of Religious Institutions Rules. The amendments change which authority may approve property works at religious institutions and which technical and administrative authorities handle tenders at different estimated costs.
What the notification changes
G.O. Ms No. 260, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments (RE4-2), dated 31 October 2022, replaces the definition of the appropriate authority for works and substitutes the tender scrutiny and approval table. It applies to works involving religious institutions governed through the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments framework.
The notification does not set out rules for ownership, purchase, sale or lease of temple property. Its provisions concern approval of works and tenders based on estimated cost, institutional classification and the cadre of the Executive Officer.
Authority for approving works
The amended definition assigns approval responsibility as follows:
- The Government is the appropriate authority where the estimated cost exceeds Rs.1,00,00,000/-.
- The Commissioner is responsible where the cost exceeds Rs.15,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs.1,00,00,000/-.
- The Joint Commissioner has authority up to Rs.15,00,000/- in specified cases, including institutions published under Sections 46(i), 46(ii) and 46(iii), and certain other institutions depending on cost and Executive Officer cadre.
- Executive Officers may approve works within limits ranging from Rs.2,00,000/- to Rs.15,00,000/-, depending on their cadre.
- The jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner may approve works not exceeding Rs.5,00,000/- for institutions not published under Section 46.
Tender scrutiny and approval
The substituted table separates technical scrutiny from tender approval:
- Up to Rs.2,00,000/-, the Assistant Engineer scrutinises tenders. Approval rests with the Executive Officer, jurisdictional Joint Commissioner or jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner, depending on the institution.
- Above Rs.2,00,000/- and up to Rs.10,00,000/-, the Assistant Executive Engineer scrutinises tenders. Approval depends on the institution and Executive Officer cadre.
- Above Rs.10,00,000/- and up to Rs.15,00,000/-, the Executive Engineer scrutinises tenders. The Executive Officer in the cadre of Joint Commissioner, or the jurisdictional Joint Commissioner in other cases, approves them.
- Above Rs.15,00,000/- and up to Rs.1,00,00,000/-, the Superintending Engineer scrutinises tenders and the Commissioner approves them.
- For Rs.1,00,00,001/- and above, the Chief Engineer scrutinises tenders and the Tender Award Committee constituted by the Government approves them.
Who may be affected
Religious institutions, their Executive Officers, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials, and parties participating in works tenders may need to identify the correct scrutiny and approval authority before proceeding.
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Common questions
Does this amendment change ownership or sale rules for temple land?
The notification does not provide ownership, purchase, sale or lease rules. It changes the authorities responsible for approving works and handling tenders for religious institutions.
Who approves works costing more than Rs.1,00,00,000/-?
The Government is the appropriate authority where the estimated cost of the works exceeds Rs.1,00,00,000/-.
Who handles tenders between Rs.15,00,000/- and Rs.1,00,00,000/-?
The Superintending Engineer of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department scrutinises the tenders, and the Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department approves them.
Who approves a tender for Rs.1,00,00,001/- or more?
The Chief Engineer of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department scrutinises the tender. The Tender Award Committee constituted by the Government approves it.
