R.Chinnadurai, v. the Commissioner, Hr and Ce

Madras HC5 Jun 2025WP/19941/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

festival committee; kumbabishekam; Sri Madura Kaliamman Temple, Adaiyur; HR & CE Department; writ of mandamus; Article 226 Constitution of India; collection of money from general public; misuse of funds; representations dated 21.04.2025 and 15.05.2025; Inspector of HR & CE Department, Edappadi; respondents 4 to 8 private individuals; disposal of writ petition; no costs; Madras High Court 05-06-2025.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of recording the HR & CE Department's assurance that action will be initiated if money is found collected from the general public; no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed. ¶¶58

R.Chinnadurai, Vs the Commissioner, Hr and Ce — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

¶1

1/7

¶2

WP No. 19941 of 2025

¶3

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

¶4

DATED: 05-06-2025

¶5

CORAM

¶6

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH

¶7

WP No. 19941 of 2025 and WMP Nos. 22493 & 22494 of 2025

¶8

R.Chinnadurai 2.Damodharan 3.Kannan 4.Madhaiyan 5.P.Ravi

¶9

Petitioner(s)

¶10

¶11

The Commissioner, HR & CE, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. 2.The Joint Commissioner, HR & CE, Nethimedu, Salem-636 002 3.The Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE Nethimedu, Salem-636 002. 4.Vadivel

¶12

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

2/7

WP No. 19941 of 2025

5.Sevi

6.Seviappan

7.Vellaiyan

8.Periyasamy

Respondent(s)

PRAYER Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 3 herein to consider the representation of the petitioners dated 21.04.2025 and 15.05.2025 for forming a festival committee for conducting the Kumbabishekam to Sri Madura Kaliamman Temple, Adaiyur and to dispose the same in accordance with law within the time frame as may be stipulated by the High Court.

¶21

For Petitioner(s): Mr.V. Sekar

¶22

For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3

¶23

ORDER

¶24

This writ petition has been filed for issue of writ of mandamus directing

¶25

the respondents 1 to 3 to consider the representation made by the petitioner,

¶26

wherein, the petitioner is seeking for forming a festival committee for

¶27

conducting the Kumbabishekam of Sri Madura Kaliamman Temple, Adaiyur.

¶28

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

¶29

3/7

¶30

WP No. 19941 of 2025

¶31

2.Heard Mr.V.Sekar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the

¶32

petitioners and Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader

¶33

appearing on behalf of respondents 1 to 3.

¶34

3.The main grievance that has been expressed by the petitioner is that the

¶35

respondents 4 to 8 are collecting money from the general public in order to form

¶36

a festival committee and that there are all chances of money being misused.

¶37

Hence, the petitioner wants a festival committee to be formed by the HR & CE

¶38

Department.

¶39

4.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Additional

¶40

Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 3 produced the

¶41

written instructions received from the Inspector of the HR & CE Department,

¶42

Edappadi. The relevant portions are extracted hereunder:

¶43

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

¶44

4/7

¶45

WP No. 19941 of 2025

¶46

5.This Court has carefully considered the submissions made on either side

¶47

and also the materials available on record.

¶48

6.The petitioner wants a Committee to be formed by the Department on

¶49

the ground that money is being collected from the general public and there is a

¶50

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

¶51

5/7

¶52

WP No. 19941 of 2025

¶53

possibility of misuse of money. The HR & CE Department has taken a very

¶54

specific stand that the money cannot be collected from the general public and as and when any such complaints are received or the petitioner is able to provide

¶55

proof of such collection that action will be initiated by the Department. That apart, this Court has repeatedly held that a festival committee cannot be formed for conducting kumbabishekam. Therefore, in the light of the assurance given

¶56

by the Department, action will be initiated if it is found that money is collected from the general public, the grievance that has been expressed by the petitioner

¶57

has been sufficiently redressed.

¶58

7.Recording the above, this writ petition is disposed of. No Costs.

¶59

Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

¶60

05-06-2025

¶61

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

¶62

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