W.P.No.46052 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 03.02.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN W.P.No.46052 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.51369 and 51370 of 2025 Arulmurugan, S/o.Marasamy, No.33, Nanjapagoundan Kottaiye, Mikelpalayam, Bhavani, Michaelpalayam, Erode-638 501. Petitioner Vs 1.The Principal Secretary Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 2.The District Collector Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Theeran Chinnamalai Maligai, Perundurai Road, Erode-638 011. ______________ p. 2 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 3.The Land Acquisition Officer and District Revenue Officer (DRO) Revenue Department, Erode Collectorate Office, Government of Tamil Nadu, Theeran Chinnamalai Maligai, 1st Floor, Perundurai Road, Erode-638 011. 4.The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District-638 452. 5.The Tahsildar Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Anthiyur Taluk, Bhavani-Anthiyur-Kollegal Road, Anthiyur, Erode District-638 501. 6.The Deputy Tahsildar (Headquarters) Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Anthiyur Taluk, Bhavani-Anthiyur-Kollegal Road, Anthiyur, Erode District-638 501. 7.The Village Administrative Officer Anthiyur Village, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Singara Veethi, Anthiyur, Erode District-638 501. 8.The Principal Secretary Department of Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. ______________ p. 3 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 9.The Directorate of Technical Education Department of Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, No.53, Sardar Petel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600 025. 10.The District Educational Officer Department of Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, No.227, Old Railway Station Road, Konavaikkal, Marapalam, Erode, Erode District-638 001. 11.The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) Headquarters, Uttamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. 12.The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) Erode Division, D.No.20F, Chinnamuthu Veethi I, Perundurai Road, Erode-638 001. 13.The Assistant Commissioner (Addl Charge) Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) Gobichettipalayam Zone, Erode Division Ex-service Man Complex, Erode-638 001. ______________ p. 4 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 14.The Executive Officer Arulmighu Veeraswaraswamy Temple, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District-638 501. 15.The Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Revenue, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 16.The Principal Government Arts and Science College, Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District. Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of certiorari calling for the records published by the 3rd respondent, namely the Land Acquisition Officer and District Revenue Officer, Erode, vide Award No.2/2025 and L.A.File R.C. No.9136/2023/A2 dated 22.05.2025 and quash the same as illegal, unconstitutional. For Petitioner: Mr.B.Jagannath For Respondents Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath Government Advocate for R1 to R10, R15 and R16 Mr. K.Karthikeyan Govt. Advocate (HR&CE) for R11 to R14 ______________ p. 5 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Heard. 2. Challenging acquisition of the land of the temple and seeking shifting of the location of the College, learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that it has been the policy of the Government and various orders were issued from time to time to the effect that even if some land is to be acquired in the area, acquisition of land belonging to the temple should be the last resort. He would submit that many other lands are available in the area which can be identified by the authorities for establishing a Government Arts and Science College, but without proper enquiry, the temple land has been acquired by abusing the process of law. 3. From the reply filed by the third respondent, it is clear that the temple land was taken after drawing proper proceedings under the law. Moreover, we find that there was an impending need for establishment of a dedicated infrastructure and permanent building for ______________ p. 6 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 the Government Arts and Science College which has been functioning in a temporary accommodation. Apart from various submissions which have been made at the bar, it is stated that the temple administration, represented by the Executive Officer, has not challenged the acquisition and received the compensation amount with objection. 4. After going through the reply of the third respondent, we do not find that there is any public interest involved in this matter, particularly, when the temple administration is not inclined to call into question the acquisition proceedings. Further, the acquisition is for the purpose of establishing a Government Arts and Science College. Therefore, we are not inclined to interfere with the same. 5. The writ petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. (MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 03.02.2026 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No bbr ______________ p. 7 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 To: 1.The Principal Secretary Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 2.The District Collector Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Theeran Chinnamalai Maligai, Perundurai Road, Erode-638 011. 3.The Land Acquisition Officer and District Revenue Officer (DRO) Revenue Department, Erode Collectorate Office, Government of Tamil Nadu, Theeran Chinnamalai Maligai, 1st Floor, Perundurai Road, Erode-638 011. 4.The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District-638 452. 5.The Tahsildar Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Anthiyur Taluk, Bhavani-Anthiyur-Kollegal Road, Anthiyur, Erode District-638 501. ______________ p. 8 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 6.The Deputy Tahsildar (Headquarters) Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Anthiyur Taluk, Bhavani-Anthiyur-Kollegal Road, Anthiyur, Erode District-638 501. 7.The Village Administrative Officer Anthiyur Village, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Singara Veethi, Anthiyur, Erode District-638 501. 8.The Principal Secretary Department of Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 9.The Directorate of Technical Education Department of Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, No.53, Sardar Petel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600 025. 10.The District Educational Officer Department of Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, No.227, Old Railway Station Road, Konavaikkal, Marapalam, Erode, Erode District-638 001. 11.The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) Headquarters, Uttamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. ______________ p. 9 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 12.The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) Erode Division, D.No.20F, Chinnamuthu Veethi I, Perundurai Road, Erode-638 001. 13.The Assistant Commissioner (Addl Charge) Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) Gobichettipalayam Zone, Erode Division Ex-service Man Complex, Erode-638 001. 14.The Executive Officer Arulmighu Veeraswaraswamy Temple, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District-638 501. 15.The Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Revenue, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 16.The Principal Government Arts and Science College, Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District. ______________ p. 10 W.P.No.46052 of 2025 THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J. bbr W.P.No.46052 of 2025 03.02.2026 ______________