1/7 WP No. 19941 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 05-06-2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH WP No. 19941 of 2025 and WMP Nos. 22493 & 22494 of 2025 1. R.Chinnadurai 2.Damodharan 3.Kannan 4.Madhaiyan 5.P.Ravi Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Commissioner, HR & CE, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. 2.The Joint Commissioner, HR & CE, Nethimedu, Salem-636 002 3.The Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE Nethimedu, Salem-636 002. 4.Vadivel https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2/7 WP No. 19941 of 2025 5.Sevi 6.Seviappan 7.Vellaiyan 8.Periyasamy Respondent(s) PRAYER Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 3 herein to consider the representation of the petitioners dated 21.04.2025 and 15.05.2025 for forming a festival committee for conducting the Kumbabishekam to Sri Madura Kaliamman Temple, Adaiyur and to dispose the same in accordance with law within the time frame as may be stipulated by the High Court. For Petitioner(s): Mr.V. Sekar For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3 ORDER This writ petition has been filed for issue of writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 3 to consider the representation made by the petitioner, wherein, the petitioner is seeking for forming a festival committee for conducting the Kumbabishekam of Sri Madura Kaliamman Temple, Adaiyur. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 3/7 WP No. 19941 of 2025 2.Heard Mr.V.Sekar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners and Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of respondents 1 to 3. 3.The main grievance that has been expressed by the petitioner is that the respondents 4 to 8 are collecting money from the general public in order to form a festival committee and that there are all chances of money being misused. Hence, the petitioner wants a festival committee to be formed by the HR & CE Department. 4.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 3 produced the written instructions received from the Inspector of the HR & CE Department, Edappadi. The relevant portions are extracted hereunder: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 4/7 WP No. 19941 of 2025 5.This Court has carefully considered the submissions made on either side and also the materials available on record. 6.The petitioner wants a Committee to be formed by the Department on the ground that money is being collected from the general public and there is a https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 5/7 WP No. 19941 of 2025 possibility of misuse of money. The HR & CE Department has taken a very specific stand that the money cannot be collected from the general public and as and when any such complaints are received or the petitioner is able to provide proof of such collection that action will be initiated by the Department. That apart, this Court has repeatedly held that a festival committee cannot be formed for conducting kumbabishekam. Therefore, in the light of the assurance given by the Department, action will be initiated if it is found that money is collected from the general public, the grievance that has been expressed by the petitioner has been sufficiently redressed. 7.Recording the above, this writ petition is disposed of. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 05-06-2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No ssr https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 6/7 WP No. 19941 of 2025 To 1. The Commissioner, HR & CE, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. 2.The Joint Commissioner, HR & CE, Nethimedu, Salem-636 002 3.The Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE Nethimedu, Salem-636 002. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 7/7 WP No. 19941 of 2025 N.ANAND VENKATESH J. ssr WP No. 19941 of 2025 05-06-2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis