Supreme Court Rules Against Temple Funds for Marriage Halls

The Supreme Court backed a Madras High Court decision prohibiting temple funds from being used to construct marriage halls. The ruling determined such use doesn't align with 'religious purposes.' Instead, these funds should support charitable activities like education or healthcare. The court will review the case on November 19.

The Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, which ruled against using temple funds for building marriage halls. The ruling emphasized that money donated by devotees should not be diverted from its intended religious purposes.

Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta underlined that temple donations are meant for the betterment of the temple itself or other charitable causes, rather than commercial enterprises like marriage halls. They suggested alternative uses such as funding education or medical services.

The apex court will revisit this contentious issue on November 19, after petitions challenging the high court's decision were brought forth. The government had controversially planned to use Rs 80 crore from temple funds to construct these halls across 27 temples.

(With inputs from agencies.)