proposed amendments to a 1959 act governing temples seeking to bring 'samadhis' and 'brindavans' under its ambit for effective control.
The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Act 2012, moved by HR and CE Minister MSM Anandan in the state Assembly said samadhis and brindavan were not covered under the Act of 1959.
"The samadhis and brindavan established in memory of famous guru, sadhu or saint are being worshipped as a place of public religious institution. These institutions have acquired the status of religious institution and own vast property besides attracting large number of worshippers," it said.
Though some of them were registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, they were not being controlled effectively under the same.
The government had for effective supervision decided to include samadhis and brindavan, where there is public worship, under the definition "religious institution", under relevant sections of the Act and bring suitable amendment to define "persons having interest" in such religious institution, it added.