State Act

THE TAMIL NADU HINDU RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS ACT, 1959

67. Determination and application of properties and funds of defunct religious institutions.—(1) 1[The Joint Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be], on being satisfied that a religious institution has, whether before or after the date of commencement of this Act, ceased to exist, hold an inquiry in the prescribed manner to ascertain its properties and funds; and after doing so, shall pass an order— (a) specifying the properties and funds of the institution ; (b) appointing a trustee therefor; (c) directing the recovery of any such properties or funds from any person who may be in possession thereof ; and (d) laying down that the properties and funds so specified shall be applied or utilised for renovating the institution or if such renovation is not possible, be appropriated to any one or more of the purposes specified in sub-section (1) of section 66. (2) 1[The Joint Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be], may, on being satisfied after holding an enquiry in the prescribed manner, that any building or other place which was being used for religious worship or instruction has, whether before or after the date of the commencement of this Act, ceased to be used for that purpose, pass an order— (a) directing the recovery of such building or place from any person who may be in possession thereof ; and (b) laying down that it shall be used for religious worship or instruction as before, or if such use is not possible, be utilised for any one or more of the purposes specified in sub-section (1) of section 66. (3) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be deemed to authorize 1[the Joint Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be], to pass an order in respect of any property or funds which vested in any person before the 30th September 1951 by the operation of the law of limitation. (4) Every order of 1[the Joint Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be], under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be published in the prescribed manner.