Disposed

Mr.Periyanambi Narasimha Gopalan v. the Commissioner, Hr Ce, CHENNAI-34 and Another

Madras HC21 Feb 2024WP(MD)/15295/2018

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Court directed the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department to consider the petitioner's representation regarding the return of icons to local temples and to pass appropriate orders within eight weeks, disposing of the writ petition with that direction.

What did the court decide?

Direction to respondents to consider petitioner's representation and pass appropriate orders within eight weeks.

Mr.Periyanambi Narasimha Gopalan Vs the… — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Madras HC (2024)

¶1

W.P. (MD) No. 15295 of 2018

¶2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

¶3

DATED : 21.02.2024

¶4

CORAM

¶5

THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE R.MAHADEVAN AND THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU

¶6

W.P.(MD) No. 15295 of 2018 and W.M.P. (MD) Nos. 13805 to 13808 of 2018

¶7

Periyanambi Narasimha Gopalan ... Petitioner

¶8

-vs-

¶9

The Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, No. 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam,

¶10

Chennai 600 034.

¶11

The State of Tamil Nadu

¶12

Rep. By its Secretary Religious Endowments, Tamil Development and Information Department

¶13

Chennai – 600 005. ... Respondents

¶14

Prayer:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, praying for a Writ of Mandamus, ordering Respondent No.1 to return the icons from the Icon Centers to the local temples from which they were brought to the Icon Centers after strengthening the safety and security of the local temples in the State of Tamilnadu.

¶15

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶16

1/5

¶17

W.P. (MD) No. 15295 of 2018

¶18

For Petitioner : Mr. K.Gokul For Respondents : Mr. N.R.R.Arun Natarajan (RR1 & 2) Special Government Pleader

¶19

O R D E R

¶20

(Order of the Court was made by R.MAHADEVAN, J.)

¶21

Heard Mr. K.Gokul, learned counsel for the petitioner and

¶22

Mr. N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the first and second respondents and also perused the materials placed on record, apart from the pleadings of the parties.

¶23

2.According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, Icon Centers are established by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the purpose of protecting the icons in the temples administered by the first respondent. Icons, which are not in worship and which do not have sufficient protection in the temples under the control of the first respondent, are deposited into the Icon Centers. However, the first respondent cannot forcibly take the icons from the local temples and deny the devotees of their right to practice religion as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 11.06.2018, requesting the respondent authorities to immediately (i)stop removing and transporting the icons without performing https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2/5

¶24

W.P. (MD) No. 15295 of 2018

¶25

the poojas / rituals as per the Agamas, (ii)segregating the icons as per their agamas and depositing each icon to the temple concerned, (iii)performing poojas / ritual to the temple deities where they are deposited, (iv)permitting the devotees to worship the icons taken from their local temples, and (v)returning the icons to the local temples after strengthening their safety and security of the same. Since the said representation has not been considered, till date, the petitioner has come up with this writ petition seeking appropriate direction to the first respondent in this regard.

¶26

3.The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondent authorities fairly submitted that the first respondent would consider the petitioner's representation and pass appropriate orders, in accordance with law, within a time frame to be stipulated by this Court.

¶27

4.In view of the above, there shall be a direction to the first respondent to pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's representation dated 11.06.2018, on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing all the necessary parties, and thereafter, act upon the same. Such an exercise shall be completed within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

¶28

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶29

3/5

¶30

W.P. (MD) No. 15295 of 2018

¶31

5.With the above direction, this writ petition stands disposed of. No

¶32

costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

¶33

21.02.2024

¶34

Index: Yes / No Speaking order/ Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes / No Maya

¶35

¶36

The Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, No. 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034.

¶37

The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu Religious Endowments, Tamil Development and Information Department

¶38

Chennai – 600 005.

¶39

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶40

4/5

¶41

W.P. (MD) No. 15295 of 2018

¶42

R.MAHADEVAN, J. and P.D.AUDIKESAVALU, J.

¶43

Maya

¶44

W.P. (MD) No. 15295 of 2018

¶45

21.02.2024

¶46

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶47

5/5

Mr.Periyanambi Narasimha Gopalan v. the Commissioner, Hr Ce, CHENNAI-34 and Another

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Mr.Periyanambi Narasimha Gopalan v. the Commissioner, Hr Ce, CHENNAI-34 and Another

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

G.Mohanakrishnan Vs Thiru.K.v.Muralitharan

R.Venkataraman Vs Thiru Shiv Doss Meena IAS and 2 others

R.Venkataraman Vs K.v.Muralidharan IAS

Rangarajan Narasimhan, Vs The State of Tamil Nadu

People for Dharma Trust Vs The Commissioner

Rangarajan Narasimhan Vs The Chief Secretary to Govt