WP No. 5708 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10-06-2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH WP No. 5708 of 2021 AND WP NO. 19391 OF 2022 1. R.Madhavan S/o.S.Ramasamy Pillai, Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment , Nungambakkam, Chennai- 600 034. 2.The Joint Commissioner HR & CE Department, Kottai Mariamman Kovil Campus, Salem- 636 001. 3.The Assistant Commissioner HR and CE Department, Kottai Mariamman Kovil Campus, Salem- 636 001. 4.The Executive Officer Shoragai Arulmigu Vetrayua Perumal Temple, Kuttapatty- Village, Mettur taluk, Salem District. 5.B.Ramakrishna Reddy S/o.Periaponnu Alias Modi Reddy, https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 Chinna Soragai,Mettur taluk, Salem District-636 502. 6.R.Madhavan S/o.S.Ramasamy [Impleaded vide order dated 10.06.2025 in WMP.No.19886 of 2022] Respondent(s) WP No. 19391 of 2022 1. P.Govindan S/o.Perumal, Goondudasanavalavu, Peria Soragai Village Post, Mettur Taluk, Salem District. Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Commissioner The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. 2.The Joint Commissioner The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), Kottai Mariyamman Koil Campus, Salem-636 001. 3.The Assistant Commissioner The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), Kottai Mariyamman Koil Campus, Salem-636 001. 4.The Executive Officer The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), Arulmigu Tharamangalam Sri Kailasanathar Thirukoil, Salem District-636 502. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 5.B.Ramakrishna Reddy S/o.Periaponnu Alias Modi Reddy, Chinna Soragai, Mettur Taluk, Salem District-636 502. Respondent(s) WP No. 5708 of 2021 PRAYER Calling for the records in Na.Ka.No.1222/ 2020/ B4, dated 29.01.2021 on the file of the 2 nd respondent herein, viz. The Joint commissioner, HR & CE Department, Kottai Mariammal Kovil Campus, Salem- 636 001, quash the same. WP No. 19391 of 2022 PRAYER Calling for the records in Na. Ka. No. 1222 / 2020 / Aa4 dated 29.01.2021 on the file of the 2 nd Respondent, quash the same and consequently, forbear the respondents 1 to 4 from disturbing rights of the petitioner to have Utsavar Vikraham of the Shoragai Arulmigu Vetraya Perumal Temple, Kuttapatti. WP No. 5708 of 2021 For Petitioner(s): Mr.V.Ravi For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Ravi Chandran Additional Government Pleader for R1-4 Mr.R.Balagurusamy for R5 WP No. 19391 of 2022 For Petitioner(s): Ms.R.Divya For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Ravi Chandran Additional Government Pleader for R1-4 Mr.R.Balagurusamy for R5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 COMMON ORDER These writ petitions have been filed challenging the impugned proceedings of the second respondent dated 29.01.2021, wherein the second respondent has directed that the custody of the jewels be kept in the joint custody of the Executive Officer and the hereditary trustees of the temple. 2. Heard Mr.V.Ravi and Ms.R.Divya, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.S.Ravi Chandran, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for respondens 1 to 4 and Mr.R.Balagurusamy, learned counsel appearing for fifth respondent. 3. It is not necessary for this Court to go into the various issues raised in the writ petition, in view of the subsequent development that has taken place. The same is evident from the written instructions received from the Executive Officer dated 09.06.2025 and the relevant portion is extracted here under: “nryk; khtl;lk;. nkl;Lu; tl;lk;. Fl;lg;gl;o. Nrhufkiy. mUs;kpF ntl;uha bgUkhs; jpUf;nfhapy; kpft[k; gHikahd jpUf;nfhapyhFk;/ ,j;jpUf;nfhapy; mUs;kpF ifyhrehju; bray; mYtyuhYk; guk;giu mw';fhtyu; jpU/Mu;/khjtd; MfpnahuhYk; epu;thfk; ftdpf;fg;gl;L tUfpwJ/ nkw;go jpUf;nfhapYf;F brhe;jkhd Rthkp eiffs; guk;giu mw';fhtyu; jpU/Mu;/ khjtd; vd;gtu; tPl;oy; https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 ,Ue;jJ/ brd;id cau;ePjpkd;wk; W.P.No.26914/2021 cj;jutpd;go ,j;jpUf;nfhapypd; bray; mYtyuhy;. tUtha;Jiw fhty; Jiw kw;Wk; ,e;J rka mwepiyaj;Jiw mjpfhupfspd; Kd;dpiyapy; 17/12/2021 njjpapy; bghWg;ngw;fg;gl;L jhuk';fyk;. nryk; kj;jpa Tl;Lwt[ t';fp bgl;lfj;jpy; (yhf;fu;) jpUf;nfhapy; bray; mYtyu; kw;Wk; guk;giu mw';fhtyu; jpU/Mu;/khjtd; MfpnahuJ Tl;L bghWg;gpy; ghJfhg;ghf itf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ/ nkYk; cw;rt fhy';fspd; Rthkp eiffis rhj;Jg;gof;fhf bfhLj;J cw;rtk; Koe;j gpwF Rthkp eiffis bgw;W kPz;Lk; jhuk';fyk; nryk; kj;jpa Tl;Lwt[ t';fpapy; ,Utu; Tl;L bghWg;gpy; cs;s bgl;lfj;jpy; (yhf;fu;) ghJfhg;ghf itf;fg;gLk;/” 4. In light of the above development, the same status can be continued. In the meantime, an application has been filed under Section 63 of the HR&CE Act and the same is pending in O.A.No.1 of 2019 before the second respondent, namely the Joint Commissioner, Salem. The disposal of this application will ultimately resolve the dispute involved in this case. Hence, there shall be a direction to the Joint Commissioner, HR&CE Department, Salem, to deal with O.A.No.1 of 2019 after affording sufficient opportunity to all parties concerned and pass final orders on its own merits and in accordance with law within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 5. The writ petitions are disposed of with the above directions. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, are closed. No costs. 10-06-2025 gd Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 WP No. 5708 of 2021 To 1.The Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment , Nungambakkam, Chennai- 600 034. 2.The Joint Commissioner HR and CE Department, Kottai Mariamman Kovil Campus, Salem- 636 001. 3.The Assistant Commissioner HR and CE Department, Kottai Mariamman Kovil Campus, Salem- 636 001. 4.The Executive Officer Shoragai Arulmigu Vetrayua Perumal Temple, Kuttapatty- Village, Mettur taluk, Salem District. WP No. 19391 of 2022 To 1.The Commissioner The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 2.The Joint Commissioner The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), Kottai Mariyamman Koil Campus, Salem-636 001. 3.The Assistant Commissioner The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), Kottai Mariyamman Koil Campus, Salem-636 001. 4.The Executive Officer The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowment Charitable Board (HR and CE), Arulmigu Tharamangalam Sri Kailasanathar Thirukoil, Salem District- 636 502. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 5708 of 2021 N.ANAND VENKATESH J. gd WP No. 5708 of 2021 AND WP NO. 19391 OF 2022 10-06-2025 2/2 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis