Chennai: Tamil Nadu govt has created two administrative zones under the HR&CE department and delegated powers to two additional commissioners sanctioned in Trichy and Chennai. The duties of the officers will include preparation of basic registers, annual verification of registers, inspection of property and documents, assessment and levy of contribution, audit fees and recovery of legal expenses, and approval of procurement tenders relating to non-senior grade temples from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. They will also approve lease and licence auctions of temple properties where the annual lease, licence fee or rent is between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh (except items that require the Commissioner to exercise veto power). In addition, they will grant permission for balalayam, ashtabandhana marundhu satruthal and kumbhabhishekam.They can also review and monitor welfare schemes implemented by the department, monitor revenue and collections of religious institutions generated from temple lands, oversee the implementation of all Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS) modules and the regular updating of entries in the modules, review the removal of encroachments, and conduct coordination meetings with the district administration during festivals.However, these additional commissioners cannot pass any order involving policy decisions of the department.
