Of HR&CE Act and appointment of non-Hindus

HR&CE officials say teacher posts in colleges run by the Dept. should be open only to Hindus

Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani has objected to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department calling for applications only from Hindus for the posts of teachers and other staff at the Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Arts and Science College in Kolathur, which was launched by the Department.

He argued this was against the Constitution, adding that the ‘Hindus only’ stipulation should be nipped in the bud.

Should the posts of teachers in colleges run by the HR&CE Department be open only to Hindus? Yes, said officials of the Department. They pointed to Section 10 of the HR&CE Act, which says the Commissioner and other officers or servants appointed to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be persons “professing the Hindu religion”. “This means whoever is appointed for fulfilling the purpose of the Act has to be a Hindu,” a senior official said. Moreover, every person appointed or deemed to have been appointed under the HR&CE Act shall sign a pledge that he or she is a Hindu by birth and professes the religion.