BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 02.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P.(MD)No.5703 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD)No.4753 of 2026 G.Selvakumaran ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The District Collector, Office of the Collectorate Building, Kanniyakumari District. 2.The Dean, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Kanniyakumari District. 3.The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District. ...Respondents PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to open the church and allow worship in the century -old church building situated in the Government Hospital, Kanyakumari, and to alter the place of the Birth and Death Registration Office and the Record Storage Office functioning within the said century-old Christian place of worhip building and reloate the same to an alternative building, in view of the 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis proceedings in Na.Ka.No.8428/Thiva1/19 by the second respondent dated 03.01.2020. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Aboobacker Siddik For Respondents : Mr.S.P.Maharajan (R1 & R2) Special Government Pleader Mr.K.Sanjai Ghandhi (R3) Government Advocate (Crl.side) ORDER (Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) This writ petition has been filed as Public Interest Litigation seeking a direction to the respondents herein to open the church and building situated in the Government Hospital, Kanyakumari. 2.According to the petitioner, he is the President of the Committee formed for the restoration of the century-old Christian Place of Worship situated within the campus of the Government Medical College, Hospital, Asaripallam, Kanyakumari District established in the year 1939 during the British Indian period. At the time of laying the foundation stone, a Christian place of worship was established within the hospital campus. But, when the hospital was upgraded as a Government Medical College Hospital, the said century-old Christian place of worship was divided into three portions. Aggrieved over the said action, 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis the petitioner made several representations to reopen the said place of worship. Since the same was not considered, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition. 3.At the outset, we are unable to accept the contention that merely because certain employees were permitted to offer worship within the Government building, the entire premises thereby acquired the character of a public place of worship so as to restore the building for public religious use. It is very common to see a small idol installed by the staff members in various public buildings. That does not mean that the public building will acquire the character of a temple or a public religious institution. 4.We do not find any public interest in this matter. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs. [N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] 02.03.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes ta 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis To 1.The District Collector, Office of the Collectorate Building, Kanniyakumari District. 2.The Dean, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Kanniyakumari District. 3.The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis N.SATHISH KUMAR, J. AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J. ta W.P.(MD)No.5703 of 2026 02.03.2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis