The Tamil Nadu government has decided to create a new department for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) at the Secretariat.

V. Rajaraman, Secretary of the Tamil Development and Information Department, will hold full additional charge as Secretary of the HR&CE Department until further orders.

A Government Order issued by Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar said the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Commissionerate, the department’s field-level arm functioning from Nungambakkam, would be brought under the control of the new department.

In the past, the Secretary of HR&CE also used to hold charge of other departments. During the DMK regime, the Secretary looked after HR&CE, Tourism, and Art and Culture.

After the TVK came to power, J. Kumaragurubaran was appointed Secretary of the Commercial Taxes, Registration and Religious Endowments departments. Under the new order, he will continue as Secretary of only the Commercial Taxes and Registration departments.

Government sources said the move was an internal administrative arrangement to ensure the smooth functioning of the HR&CE Department, which deals with a large number of temple properties.

Mr. Sai Kumar, in his order, said necessary amendments to the Tamil Nadu Government Business Rules, 1978, and the Secretariat instructions would be issued separately by the Human Resources Management Department.