Dismissed¶45

R.Duraisamy v. the State of Tamil Nadu

Madras HC25 Jul 2025WP/26984/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition dismissed on laches/unexplained delay; challenge to appointment of non-hereditary trustee by G.O.No.246 dated 13.10.2023 of the HR&CE Department, Government of Tamil Nadu; Arulmigu Aranganatha Swamy Temple, Karamadai, Coimbatore District; trustee's period ending 13.10.2025 rendering petition infructuous; no costs; connected WMP Nos. 30287 and 30285 of 2025 closed; Madras High Court, N. Anand Venkatesh J.; Neutral Citation 2025:MHC:1878.

What did the court decide?

The impugned Government order was issued on 13.10.2023 and there is absolutely no explanation in the affidavit for the long delay in approaching the Court; considering laches, the Court is not inclined to exercise its discretion. ¶41

R.Duraisamy Vs the State of Tamil Nadu — Madras HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

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2025:MHC:1878

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WP No. 26984 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 25-07-2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH

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WP No. 26984 of 2025 AND

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WMP NO. 30287 OF 2025,WMP NO. 30285 OF 2025

R.Duraisamy

Petitioner(s)

1.The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

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2.The Commissioner HR and CE Department, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam Chennai 600 034.

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3.The Joint Commissioner

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HR and CE Department, Coimbatore Region, Coimbatore 641 018.

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4.The Executive Officer

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Page No.1 of 5

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

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WP No. 26984 of 2025

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Arulmigu Aranganatha Swamy Temple, Karamadai, Coimbatore District 641 104

5.M.M.Ramaswamy

Respondent(s)

PRAYER

calling for the records relating to G.O.No.246 dated 13.10.2023 issued by the 1st respondent appointing 5th respondent as non-hereditary trustee of Arulmigu Aranganatha Swamy Temple, Karamadai, Coimbatore District and quash the same as illegal, arbitrary and vitiated by suppression of material facts and violation of statutory provisions.

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For Petitioner(s): Mr.R.Ganesh Babu

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For Respondent(s): Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, SGP For R1 to R4

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ORDER

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This writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned G.O.No.246,

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Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department dated 13.10.2023

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issued by the 1st respondent appointing the 5th respondent as a non-hereditary

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Trustee of Arulmigu Aranganatha Swamy Temple, Karamadai, Coimbatore District.

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Page No.2 of 5

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

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WP No. 26984 of 2025

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Heard Mr.R.Ganesh Babu, learned counsel for the petitioner and

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Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, learned Special Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 4.

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Even though various grounds have been raised by the learned counsel

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for the petitioner questioning the appointment of the 5th respondent, it is seen

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that the impugned Government order was issued on 13.10.2023 and there is absolutely no explanation in the affidavit as why it took such a long time for the petitioner to approach this Court. In any event, the period is coming to an end on 13.10.2025. Therefore, at this stage, no useful purpose will be served in keeping this writ petition pending since by the time the writ petition is taken up

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for final hearing, the writ petition itself will become infructuous. Therefore

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considering latches, this Court is not inclined to exercise its discretion.

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Page No.3 of 5

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

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WP No. 26984 of 2025

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