W.P.No.6227 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated: 24.02.2025 CORAM : THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY W.P.No.6227 of 2025 & W.M.P.No.6843 of 2025 Venkatesh Sowrirajan, ... Petitioner /versus/ 1. The Union Territory of Puducherry, Rep. by its Chief Secretary, Chief Secretariat, Goubert avenue, Puducherry - 605 001. 2. The Secretary to the Government, Department of Hindu Religious Institutions, Chief Secretariat, Goubert Avenue Puducherry - 605 001. 3. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Institutions Department, 3rd floor, Collector Complex, Vazhudhavur Road, Pettayanchathiram, Puducherry - 605 009. 4. The Executive Officer, Shri. Veezhi Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Tirumalairayan pattinam, Puducherry- 609 606. ... Respondents https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.6227 of 2025 Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing 3rd and 4th Respondents not to conduct or provide permission for conducting Any events involving singing of cinema songs, dancing for such cinema songs or any Non Religious or Non devotional events on any day inside the premises of subject temple and consequently direct the 3rd respondent to Appoint the Trustees for the subject temple in accordance with the provisions of the Puducherry Hindu Religious Institution Act, 1972. For Petitioner : Mr.Venkatesh Sowrirajan Party-in-Person For Respondents : Mr.R.Sreedhar, Additional Government Pleader, (Pondy) for R1 to R4 O R D E R Heard the learned party in person and the Learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents 1 to 4. 2. The are two grievances for the petitioner in person. Firstly, during the temple festival, when the orchestra is being arranged and the same is done inside the Temple premises, apart from devotional songs, movie songs are also sung. It is not appropriate to sing those songs especially when the orchestra is happening inside the Shri Veezhi Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Tirumalairayan pattinam, Puducherry. The second grievance of the petitioner is that the temple is https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.6227 of 2025 also without being administered by the Trustees for a long period of time. 3. When the matter came up for admission, Mr.Sreedhar, the Learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 4 would submit that as far as the orchestra is concerned, so long as it is within the precincts of the temple, they will take care that except devotional songs, the other songs are not sung. As far as the appointment of trustees, the Learned Additional Government Pleader seeks time to get instructions. 4. In view of the limited prayer that are prayed for on behalf of the petitioner, this writ petition is disposed on the admission stage itself on the following terms. (i) During any temple festival, if orchestra is arranged on behalf of the Temple authorities are on behalf of devotees and the same is done within the precincts of the temple, care must be taken to render only devotional songs and not non-devotional songs; https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.6227 of 2025 (ii) As far as the appointment of trustees is concerned, it is settled law that the authorities cannot be keeping the temple without appointment of Trustees for a long period. Therefore, the authorities shall take steps for appointment of the trustees as expeditiously as possible in the manner known to law in respect of the said temple. 5. The writ petition is disposed of on the above directions. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 24.02.2025 Neutral Citation : No. bsm To, 1. The Chief Secretary, The Union Territory of Puducherry, Chief Secretariat, Goubert avenue, Puducherry - 605 001. 2. The Secretary to the Government, Department of Hindu Religious Institutions, Chief Secretariat, Goubert Avenue Puducherry - 605 001. 3. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Institutions Department, 3rd floor, Collector Complex, https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.6227 of 2025 Vazhudhavur Road, Pettayanchathiram, Puducherry - 605 009. 4. The Executive Officer, Shri. Veezhi Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Tirumalairayan pattinam, Puducherry- 609 606. 5. The Government Pleader, (Pondy) High Court, Madras. Page 5 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.6227 of 2025 D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY , J. bsm W.P.No.6227 of 2025 24.02.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis