Disposed

S.K.Velmurugan v. the Commissioner

Madras HC23 Jun 2025WP/22304/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

A hereditary priest sought mandamus against HR&CE officials over an individual's construction of a wall inside a temple that would obstruct the monthly Thiruther ritual. The Court directed the Assistant Commissioner to consider the petitioner's representation dated 16.06.2025 and take immediate action to prevent construction on temple property.

What did the court decide?

Direction to 3rd respondent to deal with representation dated 16.06.2025 and ensure no construction on temple property.

S.K.Velmurugan Vs the Commissioner — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 23.06.2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

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S.K.Velmurugan .. Petitioner

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Vs.

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1.The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Having office at 119, Mahatma Gandhi Road Nungambakkam, Chennai Tamil Nadu 600 034

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2.The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Commercial Tax Building Dr.Balasundaram Salai Coimbatore 641 018 (R2 deleted by Court vide order dt.23.06.2025)

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3.The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department 2 nd Floor, Munnaal Padaiveerargal Maligai Gandhiji Road, Erode (Address of R3 replaced by Court vide order dt.23.06.2025)

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

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

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4.The Executive Officer

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Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Bhavani Eswaran Temple, Sathyamangalam Taluk Erode

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5.O.M.Subramaniam .. Respondents

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Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action to stop the illegal construction in the temple and to retrieve the original structure of the temple to facilitate the performance of the Thiruther ritual during the new moon day (amavasya) of every month.

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For Petitioner : Mr.T.V.Suresh Kumar for M/s.TSK Legal For RR1 to 4 : Mr.K.Karthikeyan Government Advocate

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O R D E R

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This writ petition has been filed for the issue of a writ of mandamus

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directing the respondents 1 to 4 to act on the representation made by the petitioner

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on 16.06.2025, wherein the petitioner has complained that the 5th respondent is

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constructing a wall in the property belonging to the temple.

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

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

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The Joint Commissioner who does not have jurisdiction has been added as 2nd respondent and hence, the 2nd respondent is deleted from the array of parties. Instead of the present 3rd respondent, The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 2nd Floor, Munnaal Padaiveerargal Maligai, Gandhiji Road, Erode, is replaced as 3rd respondent.

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3 . Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government

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Advocate, appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 4 and perused the materials

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placed on record.

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The case of the petitioner is that he is the hereditary priest of Arulmigu

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Maasana Badhrakali Amman Temple. The grievance of the petitioner is that the 5th respondent is attempting to construct a four foot wall inside the temple and thereby, preventing the Thiruther ritual from being conducted during every amavasya day. Immediately, a representation dated 16.16.2025 was sent to the

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

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

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respondents 1 to 4. Since the same did not evoke any response, the present writ petition has been filed.

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Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and

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considering the fact that the temple is presently under the administration and control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, there shall

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be a direction to the 3rd respondent to deal with the representation made by the

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petitioner on 16.06.2025 and take immediate action to ensure that no construction

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is put up in the property belonging to the temple.

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This writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs.

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23.06.2025

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Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No gya Issue order copy by 24.06.2025

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

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

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1.The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Having office at 119, Mahatma Gandhi Road Nungambakkam, Chennai Tamil Nadu 600 034

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2.The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department 2 nd Floor, Munnaal Padaiveerargal Maligai, Gandhiji Road Erode

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3.The Executive Officer Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Bhavani Eswaran Temple Sathyamangalam Taluk Erode

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

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

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N. ANAND VENKATESH, J.

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W.P.No.22304 of 2025

23.06.2025

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

S.K.Velmurugan v. the Commissioner

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

S.K.Velmurugan v. the Commissioner

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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