W.P(MD)No.23981 of 2025 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 04.09.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN W.P(MD)No.23981 of 2025 S.Muthulingam ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The District Collector, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District. 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Cherenmahadevi, Tirunelveli District. 3.The Tahsildar, Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District. 4.P.Sivarajan ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to ensure the Sivan Temple situated in Avudaiyalpuram, Vijayapathi Village, Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District is kept open from 5 a.m to 12.30 p.m in morning and from 4.00 p.m to 9.00 p.m in the evening and to follow usual practice which are followed during the time 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.23981 of 2025 of Festival in the said temple by permitting the petitioner and other Varidarars. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Arun Ramnath For Respondents : Mr.K.S.Selvaganesan, Addl. Government Pleader for R1 to R3. Mr.G.Aravinthan, For M/s.Aran Legal Consultancy for R4. ORDER Heard both sides. 2.The petition mentioned temple has not been brought under the supervision and control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department. It is said to be a temple meant for worship of a group of families alone. Be that as it may, the prayer in the writ petition is for directing poosari / trustee to keep the temple open from 05.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 04.00 pm to 09.00 pm. 3.I wanted to know whether the writ petitioner is ready to pay a decent monthly salary to the temple priest. Satisfactory response is not forthcoming. 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.23981 of 2025 4.The learned counsel for the fourth respondent undertook that the temple will be kept open from 06.30 am to 09.00 am and from 05.30 pm to 08.00 pm. It is further undertaken that poojas will be performed both in the morning as in the evening daily. If the fourth respondent is not able to do it personally, he will arrange a proxy to carryout the said function. 5.The other part of the writ prayer is for permitting the writ petitioner and others to enter sanctum sanctourm. These aspects will have to decided elsewhere. 6.Granting such liberty and recording the undertaking of the fourth respondent given through his counsel, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 04.09.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.23981 of 2025 To: 1.The District Collector, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District. 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Cherenmahadevi, Tirunelveli District. 3.The Tahsildar, Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.23981 of 2025 G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J. ias W.P(MD)No.23981 of 2025 04.09.2025 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis