WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 6 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 20-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C. SARAVANAN WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 A.Aatheenamilagi, S/o. Aatheenamilagi, No.2/243, Thirumalaikoneripatti, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai Distrtict. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Chennai-600 0034. 2. The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 40, Muthusamy Nagar, Tiruppathur Road, /Sivagangai, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 3. The Fit Person, Arulmigu Aatheenamilagi Ayyanar Temple, Melapoongudi, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 4. A. Govindan, S/o. Aatheenamilagi, Namanoor Village, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District. ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of MANDAMUS directing the 2nd respondent to pass an order to receive the first honour namely Karana Mariyaathai by the petitioner https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 6 on 23-08-2026, 01-09-2026, 05-09-2026 and 06-09-2026 during the Puravi Eduppu Thiruvizah celebrated in Arulmigu Aatheenamilagi Ayyanar Temple, Melapoongudi, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District based on the order passed by the 2nd respondent on 25-08-2026 by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 13-08-2026 and pass such other or further orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of this case and thus render justice. For Petitioner(s): Dr.C.Guhaseelarupan For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Venkatesh Additional Government Pleader for R1 to to R3 ORDER The petitioner has approached this Court at the eleventh hour, before the Temple festival is scheduled to commence on 23.08.2026 at Arulmigu Aatheenamilagi Ayyanar Temple, Melapoongudi, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 2. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner’s family has been the recipient of the first honours during the Temple festival held in the Tamil month of Aavani, namely, Puravi Eduppu Thiruvizha. 3. It is the submission of the petitioner that the fourth respondent and two others have staked a rival claim and had earlier filed O.A.No.5 of 2009 under Section 63(e) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 [hereinafter referred to as “the H.R. & C.E. Act”] before the second https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 6 respondent/Joint Commissioner, which was, however, withdrawn on 26.07.2012. 4. It is further submitted that, subsequently, the fourth respondent and two others once again filed O.A.No.3 of 2014, which came to be dismissed on 18.12.2024. Against the said order, an appeal is pending before the first respondent under Section 69 of the H.R. & C.E. Act in A.P.No.28 of 2025, which is yet to be taken up for hearing. 5. It is submitted that, during the last year’s festival, the petitioner had approached the second respondent/Joint Commissioner, who, by an order dated 25.08.2025, ordered as under: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 6 6. It is further submitted that the petitioner has now filed O.A.No.42 of 2025, which will be taken up for hearing by the second respondent/Joint Commissioner independently. However, the fourth respondent has submitted a representation dated 10.08.2026 to the official respondents, requesting that first honours should not be conferred on anybody, whereas the petitioner has submitted a representation dated 13.08.2026, seeking to receive the first honours. 7. Considering the fact that there is no order of stay of the order passed in O.A.No.3 of 2014, dated 18.12.2024, pending before the first respondent/Commissioner in A.P.No.28 of 2025, the second respondent is directed to consider the representation of the fourth respondent dated 10.08.2026 as well as the representation of the petitioner dated 13.08.2026 on or before 22.08.2026, so that, there is no confusion after the commencement of the Temple festival on 23.08.2026. Needless to state, both the petitioner and the fourth respondent shall be heard before final orders are passed. 8. Since the issue is pending before the first respondent/Commissioner in A.P.No.28 of 2025 under Section 69 of the H.R. & C.E. Act, the first respondent may endeavour to pass final orders in A.P.No.28 of 2025, so that, there is no confusion during the ensuing Temple festival in 2027 and thereafter. The second respondent may also endeavour to dispose of O.A.No.42 of 2025 filed by the petitioner as expeditiously as possible. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 6 9. The Writ Petition stands disposed of accordingly. There shall be no order as to costs. 20-08-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No smn2 Note:- Issue order copy on 20.08.2026. To 1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Chennai-600 0034. 2. The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 40, Muthusamy Nagar, Tiruppathur Road, /Sivagangai, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 3. The Fit Person, Arulmigu Aatheenamilagi Ayyanar Temple, Melapoongudi, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 6 C.SARAVANAN, J. smn2 WP(MD) No. 24434 of 2026 20-08-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis