W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 01.08.2025 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD) No.16230 of 2025 R.Kanagaraj ... Petitioner Vs 1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai. 2. The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Trichy. 3. The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thuraiyur, Trichy District. ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorari to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order passed by the third respondent in Na,Ka.No.59/2025, dated 28.04.2025 and quash the same. 1/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 For petitioner : Mr. R.Balakrishnan For respondents : Mr. Mr.S.S.Madhavan Additional Government Pleader ***** ORDER This Writ Petition is disposed of at the time of admission with the consent of the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents. 2. The petitioner is aggrieved by the impugned communication, dated 28.04.2025 issued in Na.Ka.No.59/2025 of the third respondent/Inspector of HR & CE Department. By virtue of the aforesaid communication, the petitioner has been called upon to hand over the charge of the subject temple, namely, Arulmigu Kamatchiamman Udanurai Ekampareswarar Temple. Along with the impugned communication, the petitioner has also been issued with the order of the second respondent/Assistant Commissioner of HR & CE DEpartment, which is also addressed to the third respondent/Inspector and to the first respondent/Commissioner, wherein it is informed that the third respondent has 2/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 also been appointed as a fit person, in nr.K.e.f. vz;.700/2025/m8, dated 12.04.2025. 3. The impugned order in Na.Ka.No.59/2025, dated 28.04.2025 passed by the third respondent and the aforesaid communication in nr.K.e.f. vz;. 700/2025/m8, dated 12.04.2025 of the second respondent/Assistant Commissioner are preceeded by an order of the first respondent/Commissioner, dated 03.08.2021 in ep.K.vz;.4490/2021/,5, which was issued by the Additional Commissioner. 4. The aforesaid order is also preceded by another communcation of the second respondent/Assistant Commissioner to the first respondent/Commissioner dated 28.03.2017 bearing reference in e.f.vz;521/2017/m8. Content of the same is reproduced below: “jpUr;rp khtl;lk;> JiwA+u; tl;lk;> gfsthb Cuhl;rpf;Fl;gl;l rj;jpuk; fpuhkj;jpy; mike;Js;s mUs;kpF Vfhk;gNu];thu; kw;Wk; rhuq;fehju; [Ptrkhjp Nfhtpy; ,j;Jiw Neub fl;Lg;ghl;bd; fPo; nfhz;Ltu ];jy tprhuiz Nkw;nfhz;L mwpf;if rku;g;gpf;f cj;jputplg;gl;lij njhlu;e;J 02.03.2017 md;W Nkw;gb 3/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 jpUf;Nfhapiy Ma;T Nkw;nfhz;L mwpf;if fPo;fz;lthW rku;g;gpf;fg;gLfpwJ. jpUr;rp khtl;lk;> JiwA+u; tl;lk;> gfsthb Cuhl;rp fpuhkj;jpy; mike;Js;s mUs;kpF Vfhk;gNu];tuu; jpUf;NfhapyhdJ ,j;Jiw fl;Lg;ghl;bd; fPo; ,y;iy ,j;jpUf;NfhapyhdJ Rkhu; 4 Vf;fu; gug;gsT muR Gwk;Nghf;F epyj;jpy; mike;Js;sJ. ,j;jpUf;NfhapYf;F gfsthb fpuhkj;jpy; ,Ue;J nry;tjw;F cs;shl;rp Jiwapduhy; 1.5 fpNyh kPl;lUf;F jhu; rhiy Nghlg;gl;L tUfpwJ. ,j;jpUf;Nfhapiy epu;tfpj;J tUk; jpU. fdfuh[; vd;gtu;> mtUld; 11 egu;fs; Nru;j;J ed;nfhil tR+y; nra;ahky; jpUf;Nfhapiy jpUg;gzp nra;J 2011 -Mk; Mz;L FlKOf;F elj;jpajhf njuptpj;Js;shu;. Muk;gj;jpy; jpU. utpre;jpud; vd;gtu; G+i[ nra;J te;jjhfTk;> mtUila eltbf;iffs; rupapy;yhjjhy;> mtiu ePf;fptpl;L jpU. mUz; vd;gtiu nfhz;L G+i[ nra;J tUtjhfTk; njuptpj;Js;shu;. NkYk; ,Urf;fuk; fhu; thliff;F &.5/-> &. 10/- vd fl;lzk; tR+ypg;gjhf jpU. fdfuh[d; mtu;fshy; cjtp Mizau; Kd;dpiyapy; thf;F%yk; ngwg;gl;lJ. ,j;jpUf;Nfhapypy; tpsf;F tpw;gid kw;Wk; gpuNjh\k;> ngsu;zkp ehl;fspy; thfd EioT fl;lzk; tR+y; nra;Ak; cupik jpU. ju;kypq;fk; vd;gtUf;F toq;fg;gl;L> khjk; &.10>000/- jpU. Rdfuh[; vd;gtuplk; thlif nrYj;jg;gl;L jpUf;Nfhapy; gzpahsu;fSf;F khjk; rk;gsk; nfhLg;gjhf> jpU ju;kypq;fk; vd;gtuhy; cjtpMizau; Kd;dpiyapy; thf;F%yk; ngwg;gl;lJ. NkYk; Nfhapypy; cz;bay; VJk; epWtg;gltpy;iy. mu;r;rid rPl;L &. 10/- tPjk; mr;rbj;J tR+ypj;J tUfpwhu;fs;. Nkw;gb fl;lz rPl;L tuTfis nfhz;L jpUf;Nfhapy; kpd;fl;lzk; kw;Wk; G+i[ nryTfs; Nkw;nfhs;sg;gLtjhfTk; njuptpf;fg;gl;lJ. NkYk; gpuNjh\ ehl;fspy; jw;fhypf Fl cz;bay; epWtg;gl;lJk; tprhuizapd; NghJ njupate;jJ. jpUf;NfhapYf;F rdp gpuNjh\k; kw;Wk; gpuNjh\ ehl;fspy; mjpf mstpy; gf;ju;fs; tUif jUfpwhu;fs;. kw;w ehl;fspy; mjpfgl;rkhf 100 gf;ju;fs; tUif jUfpwhu;fs;. 4/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 vdNt ,j;jpUf;Nfhapypy; rhuq;fehju; vd;w rpj;ju; [Ptrkhjp MdjhYk;> 12 uhrpfs; kw;Wk; 27 el;rj;jpuq;fs; nfhz;L> Rthkp rd;djpapd; mbj;jsk; 8 Nfhzkhf gpd;du; 16>32>64 Nfhzkhf gpupe;J ,Wjpapy; tl;ltbtj;jpy; mikf;fg;gl;bUg;gjhYk;> mk;kd; rd;djp> tpehafu; rd;djp> Rg;ukzpau; rd;djp> gpurd;d Nfhapy; gpufhuk; ntq;flh[ygjp rd;djp> kfhnyl;Rkp rd;djpfSld; ehsiltpy; Nkw;gb mikag;ngw;Ws;sjhy;> gf;ju;fs; tUif kpjkhf cs;sJ. vz;zpf;ifahdJ mjpfupf;f tha;g;G cs;sjhYk;> jpUf;Nfhapypy; epue;ju cz;bay; xd;wpid epWTtjhYk;> gbg;gbahf fl;lzr;rPl;Lfis mky;gLj;JtjhYk;> jpUf;Nfhapy; tUthapid mjpfupf;f ,aYk; vd;w fhuzj;jhYk; Nkw;gb jpUf;Nfhapypid ,j;Jiw MSifapd; fPo; nfhz;L tu Mtz nra;ayhk; vd gzpe;J gupe;Jiu nra;ag;gLfpwJ. ,j;Jld; jpUf;Nfhapiy Jiwapd; fPo; nfhz;Ltu> Ma;tuplk; ,Ue;J ngwg;gl;l Kjywpf;if jpUf;Nfhapy; mike;Js;s ,lk; Fwpj;J fpuhk epu;thf mYtyuplk; ngwg;gl;l rhd;W Nfhapiy epu;tfpj;J tUk; jpU. fdfuh[; vd;gtuplk; ngwg;gl;l thf;F%yk; Nfhapypd; jytuyhW Mfpad ,izj;J gzpe;J rku;g;gpf;fg;gLfpwJ.” 5. Thus, a reading of the above communication indicates that the petitioner alongwith other villagers have been managing the affairs of the Temple by collecting toll and charges for Archanai and that the Temple is located on four acre of Poramboke land. Further, the temple also has a number of tombs, which were under the control of the petitioner. 5/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 6. A reading of the aforesaid communication indicates that the petitioner along with others are responsible for the consecration of the temple in the year 2011 and have been maintaining the temple and that earlier one Ravichandran was appointed as Poosari (Priest), who was later dismissed and one Arun was later appointed. 7. Prima facie, there are indications that the petitioner has been maintaining the Temple, along with others and the Temple is now attracting a large number of devotees on the festival dates. 8. Considering the same, this Writ Petition is disposed of by directing the respondents to exercise powers under the provisions of TN HR & CE Act, 1959 by appointing the petitioner as one of the Non-Hereditary Trustees along with others as Non-Hereditary Trustees after following due procedure of law. 9. Pending such exercise, the impugned communication shall be kept in 6/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 abeyance. It is expected that the appointment of the Non-Hereditary Trustees as per Section 49(1) of the TN HR & CE Act, 1959, shall be made as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of four (4) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 10. This Writ Petition is disposed of, with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. Index : Yes / No 01.08.2025 Internet : Yes / No apd To 1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai. 2. The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Trichy. 3. The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thuraiyur, Trichy District. 7/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 C.SARAVANAN, J. apd W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 8/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 20961 of 2025 01.08.2025 9/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis