Published Jul 11, 2026 | 6:08 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 11, 2026 | 6:08 PM
The BJP claimed that the lands belonged to four major temples, including the Karur Kalyana Pasupatheeswarar Temple (Ssriram mt/Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: The Tamil Nadu government issued a directive to remove the restriction on registration of a large expanse of land spread over 471 survey numbers. The government argued that the land was legally assigned to private individuals more than six decades ago. It was also pointed out that those holding the deeds were unable to register, sell or mortgage their properties. The BJP found fault with the government, saying it was transferring temple lands to ‘encroachers’, an argument discarded by the party’s former state chief, K Annamalai, who batted for the people.
A government order has triggered a controversy in Tamil Nadu with the BJP accusing the TVK-led dispensation of facilitating the transfer of temple lands worth ₹25,000 crore to “encroachers”.
However, to the BJP’s chagrin, the government received support from an unexpected quarter: K Annamalai, BJP’s former president and founder of We the Leaders.
The controversy started with the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department issuing a directive to lift the ban on registration of 3,390 ryotwari pattas spread over 471 survey numbers and 3,084.95 acres in the Karur district.
The BJP was quick to respond. It alleged that the government was facilitating the transfer of temple lands to encroachers. The government countered, maintaining that the lands were legally assigned to private individuals more than six decades ago under the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963.
The order to lift the restriction, issued on Thursday, 9 July, merely removed an administrative hurdle affecting thousands of families, the government added.
Sources in Karur said the issue had been remaining unresolved for years, with thousands of patta holders unable to register, sell or mortgage their properties, despite holding the ryotwari pattas.
Those affected include working-class families, farmers, middle- and upper-income households, educational institutions and private companies, all of whom had been demanding the removal of the registration block.
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The order concerned lands originally recorded under the names of temples before the enactment of the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963.
Following the implementation of the Act, the government granted ryotwari pattas to eligible private individuals.
However, years later, based on letters sent by Assistant Commissioners and Executive Officers of the HR&CE Department, these lands were entered into the Registration Department’s Prohibitory Module, preventing the registration of sale deeds and other property transactions.
The latest government order stated that since these lands had already been granted ryotwari pattas under the 1963 Act, the Karur District Collector recommended removing the registration restriction on the specified survey numbers.
Accepting the recommendation, the HR&CE Department directed the Registration Department to remove the identified lands from the Prohibitory Module, thereby allowing property registrations.
The order covered:
The order did not issue new pattas or transfer land ownership. It only removed the ban on registration imposed through the Prohibitory Module.
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On Friday, 10 July, BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran alleged that the government was attempting to hand over valuable temple lands to encroachers.
He claimed that the order lifted the registration ban on 3,085 acres belonging to four major temples in Karur — including Pugalimalai Balasubramania Swamy Temple and Karur Kalyana Pasupatheeswarar Temple — with an estimated value of ₹25,000 crore.
Nagendran questioned the speed with which the file was processed. He pointed out that the Karur District Collector’s recommendation, the Tiruppur Joint Commissioner’s note and the HR&CE Commissioner’s final order were all issued on 9 July. He wondered how multiple departments could process the matter within a single day.
Describing the decision as an “unprecedented betrayal” of temple interests, he accused the government of assisting encroachers under the guise of governance and urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to revoke the order.
Several Hindu organisations also expressed concern, arguing that removing the restriction on registration could weaken the protection of temple properties.
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On Saturday, 11 July, Electricity and Energy Resources Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar said the allegations were based on incorrect information.
He said the lands in question were not newly allotted by the present government, but had been legally assigned under the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963.
The Minister, who represents the Thiruparankundram constituency in Madurai, said that more than 3,500 pattas were issued under the Act, and the beneficiaries and their descendants have been living on these lands for two to three generations.
“People are speaking based on old records. These are lands legally assigned by the government. Nainar should understand the facts before making such allegations,” he said.
The Minister said the government was not prepared to evict nearly 10,000 families who have been living on these lands for decades.
“There has been no violation of rules. He (Nagendran) is speaking based on incorrect information. We are not prepared to evict 10,000 families and turn them into refugees in their own state. Are the people important or is something else more important?” he asked.
He further said that if any wrongdoing had occurred, appropriate action would be initiated and no one would be protected.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president and founder of We the Leaders, K Annamalai, supported the government. His view contradicted the BJP’s official stand.
Annamalai said the issue should be viewed through the legal framework of the 1963 Minor Inams Abolition Act, under which ryotwari pattas had already been granted to eligible individuals several decades ago.
He noted that many beneficiaries and their families have been living on these lands for generations and argued that they cannot now be branded as encroachers.
Annamalai said the government’s order merely removed the registration restriction imposed through the Prohibitory Module and enables patta holders to register, sell or mortgage properties that they have legally held for decades.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
