Madurai: The Tamil Nadu government has today issued an order appointing Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan’s mother Rukmini Palanivelrajan as the Chairperson of Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Trustee Committee.
Karumuthu T. Kannan served as the Dakkar of the famous Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple for 18 years. He passed away on May 23, 2023. After that, K. Chellathurai, Zonal Joint Commissioner of Hindu Samaya Charity Department, was appointed as the Temple Dakar.
Meanwhile, K.Manivasan, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Tourism, Culture and Charitable Institutions, appointed 5 people as members of the Board of Trustees on 6th November, 2023. Among them are Minister Palanivel Thiarajan’s mother Rukmini Palanivelrajan (83), Madurai Annanagar businessman BKM Chelliah (73), Madurai KK Nagar Private Hospital Managing Director M. Sinivasan, High Court Government Additional Criminal Advocate RM Anpunidi’s wife. 5 persons were appointed namely S. Meena, former Municipal Councilor D. Subbuletsumi from Madurai Gandhi Nagar.
All of them were sworn in as trustee members on 1st Dec, 2023. But the Chairman of the Board of Trustees was not elected that day. As the period for selecting the chairman of the board of trustees for the temple as per the decree has expired, the Deputy Commissioner of Madurai recommended that the chairman of the board of trustees be selected by the government under Section 48 of the Hindu Charitable Endowments Act. Accordingly, the Commissioner of Hindu Religious Charities sent it to the Govt. As per rule 18A of the rules on the functions of the board of trustees, an order has been issued appointing Rukmini Palanivelrajan as the chairperson of the non-hereditary board of trustees.
With this, Rukmani Palanivelrajan, mother of Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan, has been appointed unopposed as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.