W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 28.04.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 And W.M.P.Nos.22845, 22846, 28664 & 28665 of 2022 and 34622 & 34624 of 2025 R.Kumar ... Petitioner in W.P.23855 of 2022 K.Arun ... Petitioner in W.P.30917 of 2025 Vs. 1 The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Tirumoorthy Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chennai. 2 The Fit Person/Inspector, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thookkanampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District. 3 The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thookkanampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District. 4 The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Cuddalore. (R4 impleaded vide order dated 07.11.2022 made in WMP.28662/2022 in WP.23855/2022 by PDAJ) ... Respondents in W.P.23855 of 2022 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 1 The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Tirumoorthy Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chennai. 2 The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Cuddalore. 3 The Fit Person/Inspector, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, Thookkanampakkam Post, Cuddalore Taluk and District. 4 The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, Thookkanampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District. 5 S.Ramanathan ... Respondents in W.P.30917 of 2025 Prayer in W.P.No.23855 of 2022: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records relating to the auction notification dated 21.08.2022 by the respondents 2 and 3 herein in respect of the license to offer dolls in Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukovil, Thennampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District and the proceedings in Na.Ka.No.242/2022/A3 dated 18.10.2022 of the fourth respondent herein and quash the same. (Prayer amended vide order dated 07.11.2022 made in 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 WMP.28658/2022 in WP.23855/2022 by PDAJ) Prayer in W.P.No.30917 of 2025: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records relating to the auction notification dated 14.06.2025 of the fourth respondent herein in respect of the license to conduct manufacturing unit of cement dolls in Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District and quash the same in respect of Clause No.6 of the Tender Notification. For Petitioners : Ms.AL.Ganthimathi Senior Counsel Assisted By Ms.R.Priyadharshini in both W.Ps. For Respondents : Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan for R1, R2 & R4 Special Government Pleader Mr.T.S.Baskaran for R3 in W.P.23855 of 2022 Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan for R1, R2, R3 & R4 Special Government Pleader R5 – No Appearance in W.P.30917 of 2025 C O M M O N O R D E R W.P.No.23855 of 2022 has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorari calling for the records relating to the auction 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 notification dated 21.08.2022 by the respondents 2 and 3 in respect of the license to offer dolls in Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukovil, Thennampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District and the proceedings in Na.Ka.No.242/2022/A3 dated 18.10.2022 of the fourth respondent and quash the same. 2.W.P.No.30917 of 2025 has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorari calling for the records relating to the auction notification dated 14.06.2025 of the fourth respondent in respect of the license to conduct manufacturing unit of cement dolls in Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District and quash the same in respect of Clause No.6 of the Tender Notification. 3.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are doll vendors for the purpose of offer and worship in the Temple situated in Thennampakkam by name Alagar Siddhar and Alaghu Muthu Ayyanar Temple, which is known as Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil. Whileso, the respondents issued Notification dated 21.08.2022 calling for public auction on 07.09.2022 for license to supply dolls for the purpose of offering the same to the 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 Temple by the Worshipers and EMD of Rs.10 Lakhs was fixed to participate in the said auction and in the said Notification, it has also been stated that except the dolls which are being supplied in the Temple for offering, other dolls are not permitted. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioners have filed these writ petitions since by way of the said auction, the right of offering the dolls is restricted to one person who is being licensed out. 4.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners further submitted that the Executive Officer of Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, has filed an affidavit stating that Caluse 6 and 9 of the Tender Notification will be withdrawn in future tender Notifications. This Court may record the said affidavit and dispose of the writ petitions by issuing direction to the respondents to issue Tender Notification in future without Clause Nos.6 and 9. 5.The learned Special Government Pleader submitted that the Executive Officer of Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, undertakes that Caluse 6 and 9 of the Tender Notification will be withdrawn in future tender Notifications. To that 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 effect an affidavit dated 25.04.2026 has been filed before this Court. 6.It is useful to extract the affidavit dated 25.04.2026 filed by the fourth respondent in W.P.No.30917 of 2025/ The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, Thookkanampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District hereunder: “4.In the hearing held on 20.04.2026, this Hon’ble Court directed the Respondent to take instruction whether they are willing to withdraw Clause 6 and 9 of the Tender notification in the future auctions and there will not be any prohibition from offering cement dolls purchased outside the Temple premises. 5.The Respondents hereby undertake that Clause 6 and 9 of the Tender notification will be withdrawn in the future tender notifications.” 7.In view of the affidavit dated 25.04.2026 filed by the fourth respondent in W.P.No.30917 of 2025/ The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thennampakkam, Thookkanampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District, this Court directs the respondents to 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 issue Tender Notification, after expiry of the tender period, without Clause Nos.6 and 9. The petitioners are entitled to participate in the future tender process. Even if the petitioners not accept the future Tender Notification, the petitioners are entitled to sell dolls in and around the Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil premises. 8.With the above observations and directions, the writ petitions are disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 28.04.2026 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No To 1 The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Tirumoorthy Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chennai. 2 The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Cuddalore. 7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 M.DHANDAPANI,J. pri 3 The Fit Person/Inspector, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thookkanampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District. 4 The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Alagar Vagaiyara Thirukoil, Thookkanampakkam, Cuddalore Taluk and District. W.P.Nos.23855 of 2022 and 30917 of 2025 And W.M.P.Nos.22845, 22846, 28664 & 28665 of 2022 and 34622 & 34624 of 2025 28.04.2026 8/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis