The Madras High Court has held that only Hindus can be appointed to teaching as well as the non-teaching vacancies in self-financing colleges and the schools established with temple funds by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.
Such appointees would be deemed to have relinquished the post the moment they cease to profess Hinduism.
A self-financing institution, which does not receive any government aid, would not fall under the definition of the term ‘State’ in order to provide equality of opportunity in public employment.
Also, a self-financing college established with temple funds and whose recurring expenses were met with fees collected from students would not fall under Articles 16(1) and (2) of the Constitution.
It would instead fall under Article 16(5) which permits appointment based on religion in certain denominational institutions.