W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 24.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 and C.M.P(MD)Nos.3840 & 3841 of 2026 1.W.A(MD)No.423 of 2026: V.A.Rajaraman ... Appellant/Writ Petitioner vs. 1.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City. Madurai. 2.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board, B1 Road, Ellis Nagar, Madurai - 16. 3.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Kalyana Sundereswar Temple, Avaniyapuram South, Madurai. 1/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 4.The Inspector of Police, Karimedu Police Station, Madurai. 5.The Inspector of Police, Chinthamani Police Station, Madurai. ... Respondents/Respondents PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 19.02.2026 made in W.P(MD)No.1006 of 2026 on the file of this Court. For Appellant : Mr.G.Babu For Respondents : Mr.K.Sanjay Gandhi (R1, R4 & R5) Government Advocate (Crl. Side) : Mr.J.Ashok (R2) Additional Government Pleader 2.W.A(MD)No.424 of 2026: V.A.Rajaraman ... Appellant/5th Respondent vs. 1.Gomathi Vijayan ... 1st Respondent/Writ Petitioner 2.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai. 2/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 3.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Inspector of Police, Chinthamani Police Station, Madurai. 4.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Ellis Nagar, Madurai District. 5.The Tahkkaar, (EO of Arulmigu Kalyana Sundreswarar Thirukovil, Madurai), Arulmigu Shree Adaikalam Kaatha Ayyanar Thirukovil, Chinthamani, Madurai District. ... Respondents 2 to 5/Respondents 1 to 4 PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 19.02.2026 made in W.P(MD)No.1008 of 2026 on the file of this Court. For Appellant : Mr.G.Babu For Respondents : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan (R1) : Mr.K.Sanjay Gandhi (R2 & R3) Government Advocate (Crl. Side) : Mr.J.Ashok (R4) Additional Government Pleader 3/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 COMMON JUDGMENT [Judgment of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.] Challenging the order of the learned Single Judge dated 19.02.2026 passed in W.P.Crl.(MD)Nos.1006 and 1008 of 2026, whereby police protection was granted and a direction was issued to close the Temple, the present Writ Appeals have been preferred by the writ petitioner and the fifth respondent, who are one and the same in W.P.Crl.(MD) Nos.1006 and 1008 of 2026, respectively. 2.W.P.Crl.(MD) No.1006 of 2026 was filed by the appellant/writ petitioner seeking police protection, and W.P.Crl.(MD) No.1008 of 2026 was filed by one Gomathi Vijayan, also seeking police protection. There are rival claims between the parties. 3.The main issue in the Writ Petitions pertains to the performance of poojas in the Temple. The appellant, Rajaraman, in 4/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 W.A(MD)No.423 of 2026, claims to be the hereditary poojari and asserts that he is entitled to perform poojas every day. This claim has been objected to by the writ petitioner, Gomathi Vijayan, in W.P.(MD) No.1008 of 2026. Both parties have filed Writ Petitions before the learned Single Judge seeking police protection to conduct the festival. 4.The learned Single Judge, while disposing of the Writ Petitions, directed the closure of the Temple until the poojariship rights are determined by the competent authority. Aggrieved by the said direction of closure, the writ petitioner and the fifth respondent, who are one and the same in W.P.(MD) Nos.1006 and 1008 of 2026 respectively, have preferred the present Writ Appeals. 5.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record. 6.It is brought to our notice that O.A.Nos.71 of 2021 and 33 of 2024 are pending before the Joint Commissioner. One pertains to the 5/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 framing of a scheme and the other relates to the claim of hereditary poojariship rights. In the meanwhile, by proceedings in Se.Mu.Na.Ka.No. 1357/2018/E3 dated 29.01.2026, a Fit Person has been appointed. 7.In such circumstances, the Joint Commissioner is directed to decide O.A.Nos.71 of 2021 and 33 of 2024 on its own merits and in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible. Till such time, the Temple shall be kept open and the Fit Person appointed shall take charge of the Temple and its administration. 8.With the above directions, these Writ Appeals stand disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 24.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No ps 6/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 To 1.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City. Madurai. 2.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board, B1 Road, Ellis Nagar, Madurai - 16. 3.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Kalyana Sundereswar Temple, Avaniyapuram South, Madurai. 4.The Inspector of Police, Karimedu Police Station, Madurai. 5.The Inspector of Police, Chinthamani Police Station, Madurai. 6.The Tahkkaar, (EO of Arulmigu Kalyana Sundreswarar Thirukovil, Madurai), Arulmigu Shree Adaikalam Kaatha Ayyanar Thirukovil, Chinthamani, Madurai District. 7/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 8/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 N.SATHISH KUMAR ,J. and M.JOTHIRAMAN,J. ps ORDER MADE IN W.A(MD)Nos.423 & 424 of 2026 DATED : 24.03.2026 9/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis