TN Minister Ramesh Holds High-level Meeting Of HR &CE Department

The review, conducted in line with administrative goals under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, examined the implementation of Assembly announcements, masterplan works and the overall administrative performance of the department. The meeting covered the renovation drives under way at 1,000-year-old heritage temples, rural places of worship and shrines situated in Adi Dravidar and tribal habitations.

Discussions focused on reclaiming encroached temple properties. Ramesh issued strict directions against any attempts to encroach upon or illegally alter ownership records of temple properties, ordering immediate police complaints and FIR registrations upon detection.

The maintenance of elephant welfare camps, goshalas, icon preservation centres, spiritual tourism initiatives, annadhanam and oru kaala poojai schemes were evaluated. Ramesh instructed officials to enforce honest, transparent and accountable administration. He wanted swift rebuttals issued against false news, enforcing the ban on unauthorised photography and videography.

The minister instructed the installation of CCTV at high footfall temples and called for empathetic handling of public petitions. The minister directed field officers to conduct mandatory morning and evening inspections to assess cleanliness, staff performance and security, cautioning of disciplinary action.
Ramesh presented compassionate appointment orders to five legal heirs of temple staff who passed away while in service. He also addressed a batch of 80 assistant engineers and assistant sthapathis recruited by TNPSC and currently undergoing induction training at the headquarters.

The meeting was attended by HR & CE secretary (additional charge) V. Rajaraman; commissioner, Dr. T.G. Vinay; additional commissioners, Dr. Durai Ravichandran, T. Rathna, P. Jayaraman, R. Vaanmathi, S. Sivakumar and S. Marimuthu; chief engineer P. Mahavishnu; departmental engineers and administrative officers.