Overview

• A division bench at Madurai set aside five government orders issued between 2023 and 2025 that approved marriage halls on temple property.
• The judges held that donations and assets belong to the deity and cannot be diverted to revenue‑generating facilities.
• The state’s claim that Hindu marriage makes such halls a religious purpose was rejected under the HR&CE Act and Surplus Funds Rules.
• Citing a 2025 Supreme Court ruling against commercial use of temple money, the court reinforced the bar on diversion of funds.
• The Rs 80 crore plan for 27 halls was blocked, with any loss to be recovered personally from officials found responsible.