State of Tamilnadu- Act
Management and Preservation of Properties of Religious Institutions Rules
TAMILNADU
India
India
Management and Preservation of Properties of Religious Institutions Rules
Act 1031 of 1964
- Published on 10 July 1964
- Commenced on 10 July 1964
- [This is the version of this document from 10 July 1964.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
1. Short title.
- These Rules may be called the Management and Preservation of Properties of Religious Institutions Rules.2. Definitions.
- In these Rules,-3. Annual report on works to be carried out.
- The trustee of a religious institution shall submit to the appropriate authority annually, six months before the end of each fasli, a report on the works which it is desirable or necessary to carry out during the succeeding fasli, setting out the need for, and the details of, the works and giving a rough estimate of the expenditure involved and of the manner in which the expenditure on the works is proposed to be met.4. Preparation of plans and estimates for works.
5. Estimate of works.
- The estimate of work shall consist of (a) a report, (b) a specification, (c) detailed statement of measurements and quantities, (d) data sheet of rates, wherever necessary, and (e) an abstract showing estimated cost of each item. In the case of all works of importance, the estimate should be accompanied also by a plan showing the design.6. Report.
- The report shall state in clear terms the object to be gained by the execution of the work estimated for, and explain any peculiarities which require elucidation, including wherever necessary, the reasons for the adoption of the estimated project or design in preference to others.7. Specification.
- The report shall be followed by the specification which must show fully and clearly, but as briefly as possible, the details of the work, how each portion is to be done, and what materials are to be used.8. Statement of measurement.
- A statement of the detailed measurements shall accompany the specifications.9. Abstract of estimates.
- The abstract of estimate for all works except miscellaneous petty works shall show the total cost (in whole rupees) of each kind of work and the detailed measurements as required in rule 8. In the case of miscellaneous petty works, however, the abstract need show only the estimated cost.10. Works not purely secular.
11. Execution of building works by worshipper or other person.
- Whenever a worshipper or other person offers to donate the cost of or to execute any building works, the trustee shall obtain from him details of his proposals and if he proposes to undertake the works himself, a statement showing the manner in which the necessary finances for the execution of works will be made available and the time within which the construction will be completed and forward the details or statement, as the case may be, to the appropriate authority with his remarks whether the said offer maybe accepted and, if so, on what conditions.12. Submission of plans and estimates to appropriate authority.
13. Sanction of plans by appropriate authority.
14. Supervision, control and inspection of building works.
- In all cases in which a building work is undertaken either departmentally or otherwise, such work shall be subject to supervision, control and inspection at a cost not exceeding 5 per cent of the estimated cost of the works as may be fixed by the appropriate authority as and when the appropriate authority deems fit and the said authority may, at any stage of the execution, order such check measurement and control as may be deemed essential before the work is further proceeded with or further expenditure incurred.15. Execution of minor building works in anticipation of sanction.
- A trustee or the Board of Trustees, as the case may be, shall not undertake or commence any building work without the sanction of the appropriate authority, provided that minor repairs, which cannot be postponed, owing to urgency, may be executed in anticipation of sanction applied for.16. Deviations from plan and estimate not to be made without sanction.
17. Obtaining supplies.
18. Tenders to be called for.
- [(1) Tenders should, invariably, be called for when the amount involved in a particular contract is Rs. 10,000 or more. This rule does not admit of a major work being split into parts, of each costing less than Rs. 10,000 and each part being given out on contract without calling for tenders.19. Advertisement or notice calling for tenders.
- Every advertisement or notice published under rule 18 shall also state-20. Procedure for acceptance of tenders.
- The trustee or where there is a Board of Trustees, the Chairman thereof or any trustee empowered by the Chairman in this behalf shall, at the time and place specified for the purpose, open the sealed covers containing the tenders in the presence of such of the tenderers or their agents as may be present and until the sealed covers are so opened, they shall be kept in the personal custody of the trustee or the Chairman, as the case may be.21. Over-writing, etc., in rates tendered.
- Over-writing, erasures or alteration in the rates tendered shall not be admitted unless they are attested by the tenderer with date. The trustee or the Chairman, as the case may be, shall immediately on opening the covers, attest with date all such over-writings, erasures or alterations. If there are corrections in the tender unattested by the tenderer, a note of such corrections shall be made on the tender itself, when it is opened.22. Preparation of comparative statement of the rates tendered.
- The trustee or the Chairman, as the case may be, shall prepare or cause to be prepared, a comparative statement of the rates tendered by the different tenderers and when opening the tenders, shall keep a personal note of the total number of tenders opened by him and verify therewith the number in comparative statement of the tenders.After the preparation of the comparative statement and before the selection of a tenderer, the trustee or the Chairman, as the case may be, shall examine all the tenders and satisfy himself that no corrections, which were not in the tenders at the time he received them, had been made in any of them.23. Acceptance of tenders.
| Monetary limit in Rupees | Technical authority competent to scrutinizetenders | Administrative authority to approve tenders |
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Up to Rs. 25,000 | Assistant Engineer of the Highways and RuralWorks Department or Public Works Department or Hindu Religiousand Charitable Endowments Administration Department. | In the case of religious institutions notpublished under section 46 of the Act, the Assistant Commissionerhaving jurisdiction and the Assistant Commissioner / ExecutiveOfficer concerned in the case of religious institutions having anExecutive Officer in the cadre of Assistant Commissioner subjectto revision or cancellation by the Commissioner. |
| Rs. 25,001 to 2,00,000 | Assistant Divisional Engineer of the Highwaysand Rural Works Department or Assistant Executive Engineer ofPublic Works Department [or Assistant Divisional Engineer orAssistant Executive Engineer of Hindu Religious and CharitableEndowments Administration Department | In the case of religious institutions having anExecutive Officer in the cadre of Deputy Commissioner, ExecutiveOfficer concerned subject to revision or cancellation by theCommissioner. |
| Rs. 2,00,001 to 5,00,000 | Assistant Divisional Engineer of the Highwaysand Rural Works Department or Assistant Executive Engineer ofPublic Works Department,Assistant Divisional Engineer orAssistant Executive Engineer of the Hindu Religious andCharitable Endowments Administration Deptt. | In the case of religious institutions includedin the list published under section 46(i) and (ii) and all theinstitutions not published under section 46 of the Act, the JointCommissioner having jurisdiction and the Joint Commissioner /Executive Officer in respect of religious institutions having anExecutive Officer in the cadre of Joint Commissioner subject torevision or cancellation by the Commissioner. |
| Rs. 5,00,001 to 1,00,00,000 | By the Superintending Engineer of the Highwaysand Rural Works Department or Public Works Department or HinduReligious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department. | The Commissioner subject to the modification orcancellation by the Government. |
| Rs. 1,00,00,000 and above | -do- | The Government. |
24. Form of security in contracts.
- The form of security to be taken in the case of piece-work contracts shall be as laid down in the conditions specified in the tender for piece-works in Annexure II. The form of security to be taken in the case of contracts based on the lump sum tender system as defined in the Tamil Nadu Detailed Standard Specification shall be as laid down in the form of the tender notice and articles of agreement.25. Contracts on behalf of religious institution.
- Every contract made on behalf of a religious institution shall be in writing in the common form prescribed in the Tamil Nadu Financial Code for Departments other than the Public Works Department.26. Execution of contract.
- Every contract shall be executed by the contractor and by the trustee.27. Matters to be specified in contracts.
28. Variation of terms of contracts.
- The terms of any contract shall not be added to or varied without the previous consent of the person competent to enter into the contract and of the appropriate authority in cases where the decision of the trustee or the Board of Trustees, as the case may be, in respect of tenders is subject to confirmation of such authority.Every addition to, or variation of, the written contract shall be authenticated by the signature of the parties thereto.29. Contracts to be in conformity with rules.
- Any contract or any addition thereto or variation thereof made or executed otherwise than in conformity with the provisions of these Rules shall not be binding on the religious institution concerned.30. Construction and repair of gopurams, etc., to be entrusted to stapathis.
- The construction of any gopuram, vimanam, stone, mantapam or other stone structure with stucco works or repairs to such construction of which engineers have no specialised knowledge shall, with the specific sanction of the appropriate authority, be entrusted to any able stapathi selected from the panel of stapathis approved by the Government, from time to time. The plans and estimates prepared by the stapathis shall be countersigned by a competent engineer as specified in Annexure-I, provided that in particular cases where the competent authority is satisfied that such countersignature is not necessary and makes a record in writing to that effect, the competent authority shall dispense with such countersignature and direct check-measurement of such works by anothe stapathi or technical officer from the panel approved by the Government. The remuneration to be paid to the stapathi shall be on the scale prescribed for private or retired persons in rule 4.31. Repairs, alterations, etc., to antiquities.
32. Travelling allowance to officers, private engineers and stapathis.
- The officers and private engineers referred to in the rules shall be paid from out of the funds of the religious institutions concerned, such travelling allowance not exceeding the travelling allowance admissible to the Government servants in the corresponding grades and such inspection fees as prescribed under the rules.For the purpose of these rules, the stapathis engaged for the works shall be treated as officers under Grade VIII of the Tamil Nadu Travelling Allowance Rules (Pay exceeding Rs. 150, but not exceeding Rs. 240), II class train and daily allowance of Rs. 2.44 n.p. and they shall be paid accordingly.33. Trustees to afford facilities to officers, etc., for inspection of building works.
- The trustees shall be bound to give the officer or stapathis referred to in rule 32 all facilities for inspection, supervision, verification and check-measurement in the discharge of his functions.34. Payment of travelling allowances.
- The travelling and daily allowances and other fees payable to the officers referred to in rule 32 for journeys in connection with a religious institution shall, on sanction by the Commissioner, be paid by the trustee or the Board of Trustees of the institution concerned; and when more than one institution is included in one inspection, tour, the travelling allowances shall be borne by all such institutions in such proportion as the Commissioner may deem fit, according to the estimated cost of works inspected by the officers and shall be paid by the trustee or the Board of Trustees, as the case may be.35. Inspection to report the necessity for a building work.
- The appropriate authority may either on its own motion or on receipt of requisition from the trustee or the Board of Trustees, depute any officer noted in Annexure-1, or any officer in active service in the Public Works or Highways Department to inspect at the cost of the institution and report whether any building work is necessary and on receipt of such report, he may direct the trustee or the Board of Trustees to incur the necessary expenditure and carry out such work and the trustee shall be bound to do so. Centage charges at the rate of 2V* per cent on the cost of work proposed to be taken up shall be paid from out of the funds of religious institution for inspection by Engineers in service.36. Maintenance of registers, accounts, etc., in respect of building works.
- The trustee or the Board of Trustees shall maintain books, registers accounts, vouchers and records in respect of building works and shall make such reports, as the Commissioner may, by general or special order, direct.37. Care of structure.
- It shall be the duty of the trustee or the Board of Trustees to ensure that the utmost care is taken of the architectural, sculptural and archaeological features of every structure in the temple or on its lands in his or its charge.37A. [ Insuring of valuable building. [Inserted by G. O. Ms. No. 3451, Revenue, dated the 30th December 1965.]
- The trustee or the Board of Trustees may insure, if considered necessary, valuable buildings of religious institutions located in important and busy localities with the permission of the Commissioner.]38. Archaeological department to be consulted regarding building work.
- Whenever the Commissioner finds it desirable or necessary, he may consult the Archaeological Survey of India regarding any building work.39. Issue of directions by Government regarding building works of a secular character.
40. Trustees to afford facilities to officers, etc., for inspection, etc., of building works of secular character.
- The trustee or the Board of Trustees shall be bound to give the officers referred to in sub-rule (i) of rule 39 facilities for inspection, supervision, verification and check-measurement and shall carry out their directions.41. Exclusion from the operation of these Rules.
- The Commissioner may exclude any class of institutions or class of works or supplies from the operation of any or all of these Rules for good and sufficient cause.42. Maintenance of register of the immovable properties.
- The trustee or the Board of Trustees of every religious institution shall maintain a register in the form prescribed by the Commissioner showing the other immovable properties including irrigation channels, wells and tanks owned by the religious institution and record in such register all improvements made to them every year.43. Trustees to inspect all lands, irrigation works and drainage works of religious institution.
- The trustee or the Board of Trustees of a religious institution shall inspect before the end of December every year all the lands including irrigation works and drainage works belonging to the religious institution and take timely action for their proper utilisation and removal of damage, mischief or tresspass and also submit for approval of the appropriate authority annually six months before the end of each fasli, proposals suggesting improvements to lands including repairs to irrigation tanks and channels such as converting waste lands into cultivable lands, single crop into double crop, dry into wet, growing revenue yielding trees, manure crop, etc., sinking of wells, silt clearance, drainage, etc., which it is desirable or necessary to carry out during the succeeding fasli, setting out the need for, and the details of, the works and giving a rough estimate of the expenditure involved and the manner in which the expenditure on the work is proposed to be met and the appropriate authority may approve them with such modifications and directions as may be found necessary.44. Procedure for preparation of plans and estimates for improvement of land.
- As regards submission of detailed estimates and plans for improvements to lands approved in Rule 43, their sanction and execution of works concerned, the provisions of Rules 12 to 16 shall mutatis mutandis apply.45. Inspection of works relating to lands by appropriate authority.
46. Allowances and fees admissible to officers referred to in rule 45.
- The officers referred to in rule 45 shall be. paid from out of the funds of the religious institutions such travelling allowance, daily allowance, inspection fees, fees for the preparation of plans and estimates, scrutiny of plans and estimates, for technical advice or for expert opinion as may be fixed by the Commissioner with regard to the work not exceeding the travelling allowance and daily allowance admissible to the Government servants in active service, in corresponding grades and fees that may be leviable under the Public Works Accounts Code and Agricultural Department Manual, if the work is done by the officers of the Public Works, Highways or Agricultural Department of the State, as the case may be:Provided that in cases where officers in active service of the Public Works, Highways or Agricultural Department of the State are employed for purposes as specified in rule 45, such charges in accordance with the Public Works Accounts Code and Agricultural Department Manual as may be levied from out of the funds of the religious institutions shall be credited to the Public Accounts of the Government.47. Rules 33 to 36 to apply to officers referred to in rule 45.
- In regard to the provision of facilities to the officers referred to in rule 45, payment of travelling allowance and other allowances payable to them, enforcement of their recommendations and maintenance of registers, etc., the provisions of rules 33 to 36 shall mutatis mutandis apply.48. Government to issue directions in regard to inspection of irrigation source, tanks, etc., belonging to religious institution.
49. Maintenance of temple cars, palanquins, etc.
- The trustee or the Board of Trustees shall maintain the paraphernalia such as car, vahanams, palanquins, chapparams, in good condition. Proposals regarding their making, repairs, alteration or replacement should be made to the appropriate authority wherever necessary for sanction at the time of submission of budget after obtaining the advice of an expert stapathi from out of the panel approved by the Government.50. Register of idols.
- The trustee or the Board of Trustees of every religious institution shall maintain a register of the idols of the temple in such form as the Commissioner may prescribe.51. Sale, gift or exchange of idols.
- No trustee or the Board of Trustees shall gift, sell or exchange any idol or image in a temple without the express previous permission of the Government.52. Alterations to or melting of idols.
- No trustee or the Board of Trustees shall alter the character of or repair, remove, melt or replace any metallic or other idol or image in the temple, whether fixed or otherwise, without the express permission of the Government in writing.53. Formation of Thiruppani Committees.
- In the case of temples requiring renovation or "Thiruppani" works and in need of donations from the public, Thiruppani Committee shall be formed for each such temple for the purpose.54. Thiruppani Committee Members and Secretary.
- [(1) The Thiruppani Committee shall consist of the trustees of the temple as ex-officio members and such other members who maybe co-opted by the trustees. The formation of the Committee and the names of its members shall be reported -(a)in respect of religious institutions not published under section 46 of the Act, to the Assistant Commissioner having jurisdiction;(b)in respect of religious institutions published under section 46(i) and section 46(ii) of the Act, to the Joint Commissioner having jurisdiction;(c)in respect of the religious institutions published under section 46(iii) of the Act, where the income of the institution does not exceed Rs. 50,00,000 to the Commissioner;(d)in respect of religious institutions published under section 46(iii) of the Act, where the income of the institution exceeds Rs. 50,00,000 to the Government, for approval.]55. Meetings of Thiruppani Committee.
- The meetings of the committee shall be convened by the Secretary as often as necessary and at least once a month and all matters pertaining to the Thiruppani work including the acco unts of collections and expenditure shall be placed at the meeting.56. [ Collections by Thiruppani Committee. [Substituted by G. O. Ms. No. 275, C. T. & R. E., dated the 16th July 1997.]
- Collections shall be made by the issue of printed duplicate receipts with separate serial numbers specially printed for the purpose. Ihe Treasurer shall sign and issue the original receipts and retain the duplicate with him. In addition, the Thiruppani Committee with due sanction from the appropriate authority print Thiruppani donation tickets in the name of the temple denomination-wise and use them for collections after getting the seal duly affixed by the appropriate authority of the department. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the credit of all collections through issue of such tickets. Such tickets should not be handed over for collection to the persons not connected with the administration of the temple or Thiruppani Committee. The collections realised shall be deposited then and there in an approved bank in a separate account opened for the purpose in the name of the concerned temple as "Temple Thiruppani Fund". As and when moneys are required to be withdrawn, the President and the Treasurer of the Committee will jointly draw from it by issuing cheques. The cheque book and pass book shall be in the custody of the Treasurer.] [Substituted by G. O. Ms. No. 275, C. T. & R. E., dated the 16th July 1997.]57. Submission of estimates by Thiruppani Committee.
- The Thiruppani Committee shall submit duly prepared plans and estimates for the works proposed to be undertaken and obtain the previous approval of the appropriate authority before commencing the works.58. [ Payment to contractors by Thiruppani Committee. [Substituted by G. O. Ms. No. 275, C. T. & R. E., dated the 16th July 1997.]
- The payments to contractors or workmen shall be made only after check-measurements and on bills countersigned by the President of the Thiruppani Committee. In cases of resignation or removal or dismissal of the President of the Thiruppani Committee, the Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner or the Commissioner, as the case may be, shall authorise the Executive Officer to pay the legitimate dues.]59. Audit of accounts maintained by Thiruppani Committee.
- The accounts maintained for the collections made and expenditure incurred by the Thiruppani Committee shall be subject to audit by the auditors appointed under subsection (2) of section 87 of the Act and report of such audit shall be binding on the Thiruppani Committee and the provision of section 90 of the Act shall apply in this case.60. Direction of appropriate authority by Thiruppani Committee.
- The Thiruppani Committee shall carry out such directions as may be issued and abide by such conditions as may be imposed by the appropriate authority in this behalf in the due discharge of their duties and other matters connected with the "Thiruppani Works".61. Painting of building works.
- The trustee of every religious institution shall carry out painting of building works and the paraphernalia by an expert painter chosen from the list of painters approved by the Government after obtaining sanction from the appropriate authority.62. [ Maintenance of temple car. [Rules 62-66 was added by G.O. Ms. No. 2329, Revenue, dated the 9th August, 1965.]
- The temple cars meant for use in festival shall be kept in good repairs, sufficient care being taken to maintain the strength of timber of the axle beam and to reinforce it, wherever necessary.63. Duties of the trustees of temple in the matter of celebrating car or theppam festival.
- The trustee of every temple, which celebrates car or theppam festival shall apply at least [six weeks for the purpose of clause (a) and one month for the purposes of clause (b), (c), and (d)] [Substituted by G.O. Ms. No. 1254, Revenue, dated the 19th June 1969.] in advance of the commencement of festival -63A. [ [Inserted by G.O. Ms. No. 1254, Revenue, dated the 19th June 1969.]
The certificate of fitness referred to in clause (a) of rule 63 shall be issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer of the Public Works Department, at least two weeks prior to the date of commencement of the festival, so that the trustee or the temple authorities may have time to rectify the defects, if any, pointed out, before another final inspection to be made on a day previous to the festival.]64. Application.
- The application under rule 63 shall contain,-65. Arrangements for the movement of temple cars.
66. [ Conduct of theppam festival.] [Substituted by G. O. Ms. No. 1254, Revenue, dated the 19th June 1969.]
- In the case of Theppams, the temple authorities shall make necessary arrangements for towing the raft slowly, carefully manoeuvring it at the turning and approaches to the bank, for entrusting towing operations to experienced persons and for ensuring that the raft is not loaded beyond the limit leading to any stampede, disallowing entry of unauthorised persons into the raft and for putting up requisite number of cork logs. It should also be ensured that in the proposed path of raft [projection like butting rocks,] [Substituted by G. O. Ms. No. 1254, Revenue, dated the 19th June 1969.] submerged articles which cannot be removed are prominently marked by lighted boys so that the Theppams could be towed clear off obstructions.]Annexure I(See rule 4)| SI. No. | Estimated cost of work | Status of private individuals competent toprepare plans and estimates | Status of department staff competent tocountersign plans and estimates |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 | Up to and inclusive of Rs. 5,000. | An Upper Subordinate or L.C.E. with experiencein the profession for a minimum period of 3 years. | Assistant Engineer, Public Works or HighwaysDepartment. |
| 2 | Above Rs. 5,000 but not more than Rs. 40,000. | A Corporate Member of the Institution ofEngineers of India or one possessing an equivalent qualificationwith experience in the profession for a minimum period of 8years. | Executive Engineer, Public works Department orDivisional Engineer, Highways Department. |
| 3 | Above Rs. 40,000 but not more than Rs. 2,00,000. | A Corporate Member of the Institution ofEngineers of India or one possessing an equivalent qualificationwith experience in the profession for a minimum period of 10years. | Superintending Engineer, Public works Departmentor Highways Department. |
| 4 | Above Rs. 2,00,000 | A Corporate Member of the Institution ofEngineers of India or one possessing an equivalent qualificationwith experience in the profession for a minimum period of 10years. | Chief Engineer, Public Works Department orHighways Department. |