K.Gopi Vs the Commissioner

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 227 of Constitution of India, to issue a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action on the basis of the petitioners' representation dated 04.07.2025, within a time stipulated and forbearing the respondents 5 to 7 from administering the office as Board of Trustee of the temple, Paruvatha Rajakula Selva Vinayagar Temple, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District.

¶22

For Petitioners : Mr.K.Chozhan For Respondents : Mr.K.Karthikeyan Government Advocate for RR1 to 4

¶23

ORDER

¶24

The petitioners belonging to fishermen community, which manages

¶25

the subject temple, Arulmigu Paruvatha Rajakula Selva Vinayagar Temple at Chidambaram, claiming to be a denominational temple of the said community, have made complaints against the respondents 5 to 7, who are tenants, occupying properties belonging to the temple and were appointed as trustees by the 2^nd respondent, by proceedings dated 19.06.2025.

¶26

2.The primordial grievance of the writ petitioner is that the

¶27

2/6

¶28

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

¶29

respondents 5 to 7 are ineligible to serve as trustees since they themselves are in arrears of rent to the temple. The petitioners have therefore sent lawyer's notices to the 2^nd respondent on 24.06.2025, 04.07.2025 and 13.08.2025. They have followed up the same with a personal representation on the same day i.e., 13.08.2025.

¶30

3.The learned Government Advocate appearing for the official respondents would submit that though the earlier representations have been acknowledged by the 2^nd respondent, insofar as the personal representation given on 13.08.2025, there is no acknowledgement for having submitted the same before the 2^nd respondent.

¶31

4.Be that as it may, I find that the notice dated 04.07.2025 has been acknowledged at the end of the 2^nd respondent on 10.07.2025. In view of the above, considering the limited relief sought for in the writ petition, besides dispensing with the notices to the private respondents 5 to 7, a direction is issued to the 2^nd respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 04.07.2025, on merits and in accordance with law. It shall be open to the petitioners to give copies of the other representations referred to in the affidavit, along with the copy of the order. On receipt of the same, the 2^nd

¶32

3/6

¶33

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

¶34

respondent shall conduct due enquiry and dispose of the petitioner's representation regarding the disqualification of the respondents 5 to 7 to be trustees of the temple, after giving a fair opportunity to the petitioners, as well as the respondents 5 to 7. The said exercise shall be completed, within a period of three months, from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

¶35

5.With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.

¶36

Connected Writ Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

¶37

01.12.2025

¶38

Neutral Citation: Yes/No Speaking Order/Non-speaking Order Index : Yes / No ata

¶39

To

¶40

1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments Department, Uthamar Gandhi Road,