Madras High Court rules Podhu Dikshidars maladministered Chidambaram Sabanayagar Temple; appoints Board of Management

Sabanayagar Temple, Chidambaram | Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar The Madras High Court on Friday (October 30, 2026) held that the Podhu Dikshidar (a hereditary community of priests) had maladministered the Chidambaram Sabanayagar Temple ever since its administration was handed over to them pursuant to orders passed by the Supreme Court in 2014. The High Court appointed a Board of Management (BoM) led by two retired judges to restore the temple’s glory.A Division Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and E. Manoharan ordered that the BoM shall be chaired and co-chaired by the High Court’s retired judges V. Bharathidasan and R. Suresh Kumar, respectively. Retired IAS officer C. Rajendran shall be its member, and the secretary of the Podhu Dikshidar’s association and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department secretary shall be the ex-officio members.The BoM, in consultation with the Tamil Nadu Heritage Commission, should undertake the removal of unauthorised and unnecessary constructions put up on the temple premises that cause hindrance/damage to the ancient structure. It should also take steps to retrieve the temple properties under encroachment by availing itself of the assistance of the district administration, the Bench ordered.Observing that the Podhu Dikshidars had not shared the true and full accounts of the income derived from the temple in the last 12 years, the Division Bench wrote: “Therefore, we have no hesitation to record that the manner in which the ancient structure of the temple has been damaged and ill-maintained under the management of the Podhu Dikshidars is disheartening.”The Bench expected the BoM to take inventory of properties, secure missing valuables, recover the rental/lease arrears due to the temple, and obtain expert advice for augmenting the income from temple properties, besides maintaining proper books of accounts. The BoM was also directed to renovate the temple without altering the ancient heritage structures and conduct the consecration ceremony as per the religious prescriptions.Justices Jayachandran and Manoharan said that indiscriminate constructions put up by the Podhu Dikshidars on the temple premises causing extensive damage to the heritage structure, defiance in rendering true and proper accounts, collection of donations for Annadhanam and Annapavadi, conversion of temple premises “as a food court” for non-religious activities and failure to preserve the temple properties imminently warrant judicial interference to rectify “the evil of maladministration.”The Bench hoped the BoM would take charge forthwith and bring back the glory of the temple at the earliest. All government authorities concerned were directed to provide necessary assistance to the BoM, and the chairman, co-chairman, as well as the member, shall be entitled to a monthly remuneration of ₹2 lakh each, besides being provided with cars, drivers, and personal security officers in the rank of Inspector of Police.The expenses should be met from the funds of the HR&CE Department, and a sum of ₹10 lakh should be vested with the BoM for meeting contingency expenditure. The BoM, at its discretion, shall employ any person to assist it and pay them appropriately for their service, the Bench ordered, and said that the Board shall ensure fair and equal opportunity to all devotees to have darshan and recite hymns at the temple without violating customary practices.The orders were passed on a batch of cases related to the administration of the temple. Published - October 30, 2026 04:32 pm IST