Disposed

Sureshbabu D v. The Secretary to Government

Madras HC26 Jun 2025WP(MD)/17252/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

A qualified Tamil Velvi Asiriyar sought mandamus to be allowed to perform Velvi rituals in Tamil at the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple Kumbhabhisekam. The court directed respondents to consider his participation if feasible and asked the Commissioner to evolve a uniform scheme for all temples.

What did the court decide?

Direction to respondents 2 and 3 to consider petitioner's participation in Kumbhabhisekam if feasible; direction to Commissioner to evolve a uniform empanelment scheme.

Sureshbabu D Vs The Secretary to Government — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 26.06.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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D.Sureshbabu ... Petitioner

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The Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

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The Commissioner, O/o. the Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

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The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, O/o. the Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple/Tiruchendur Murugan Temple Tiruchendur – 628 215. ... Respondents

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner, dated 17.06.2025 made to the respondents to provide equal opportunity as Tamil Velvi Asiriyar to perfom Velvi Kundam Nigalvugal in the Kudamuzhaku Vizha schedule on 07.07.2025 and before, during and after the Kudamuzhaku for the Mandala Poojai of Tiruchendur Murugan Temple / Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Tirukovil, Tiruchendur.

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For petitioner : Mr.R.Amardeep

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For respondents : Mr.S.S.Madhavan Additional Government Pleader for R1 & R2 Mr.M.Muthugeethiayan Standing Counsel for R3

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ORDER

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This Writ Petition is disposed of at the time of admission after hearing

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the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Additional Government Pleader for

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the respondents 1 and 2 and learned Standing Counsel for the third respondent.

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This Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus to direct the respondents to

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consider the representation of the petitioner, dated 17.06.2025 made to the

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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respondents to provide equal opportunity as Tamil Velvi Asiriyar to perfom Velvi Kundam Nigalvugal in the Kudamuzhaku Vizha schedule on 07.07.2025 and before, during and after the Kudamuzhaku for the Mandala Poojai of Tiruchendur Murugan Temple / Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Tirukovil, Tiruchendur.

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The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner is a qualified Velvi Asiriyar, who is qualified to perform the Velvi Kundam Nigalvugal during the Kumbhabhisekam of the subject temple.

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It is submitted that the petitioner has approached this Court for different temples and had secured orders in W.P.(MD) No.4667 of 2025 and W.P.(MD) No. 9805 of 2025, wherein by order, dated 28.03.2025 in W.P.(MD) No.9805 of 2025, the TNHR & CE Department has stated that Arulmigu Maruthamalai Murugan Temple, Coimbature was giving importance to the Tamil language and was going to perform half of the Yagasalai Velvi Kundam by chanting the mantras in Tamil and that totally, 73 Yagasalai Kundams were provided and the temple was making arrangements to provide 36 Vedic Tamil Scholars to perform Yagasalai Velvi in Tamil in respect of 36 Yagasalai Kundams.

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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It is however submitted that as far as the subject temple, namely, the third respondent/Arulmigu Subraminia Swamy temple at Tiruchendur, no arrangements have been made and therefore, the petitioner has given a representation to the respondents on 17.06.2025 with a request to consider the petitioner’s representation to allow the petitioner to perform Velvi Kundam Nigalvugal by performing Velvi by chanting Tamil Mantram in the Kumbhabhisekam of Tiruchendur Murugan Templ/Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple, Tiruchendur before, after and on 07.07.2025 during the entire Kumbhabhisekam Velvi Nigalvugal and further consider the request of performing the Kumbhabhisekam on 07.07.2025 fully in Tamil or equal performing rights for Tamil language side by side with Sanskrit by chanting Tamil Mantram equally in Velvi Kundam, Vedigai Kumbam and Gopurakalasa punithaneernigalvugal in Tamil for the Kudamuzhuku Vizha to be conducted by the respondent on 07.07.2025 in Tiruchendur Murugan Temple/Aurlmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple.

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The Writ Petition is opposed by the learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents 1 and 2 and learned Standing Counsel for the third

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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respondent.

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It is submitted that two Writ Petitions are pending before the Hon’ble First Bench of this Madurai Bench in W.P.(MD) No.17301 of 2025 and W.P.(MD) No.17066 of 2025 and they are listed today and have been adjourned to 02.07.2025.

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It is submitted that the petitioner has not given breathing time to the respondents to even consider the representation as the representation has been given only on 17.06.2025 and this Writ Petition has been filed on 20.06.2025 and listed today for admission.

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That apart, it is submitted that adequate arrangements have been made to render the Hymns in Tamil, namely, Panniruthirumurai, Thirupugazh and Kandhar Anupoothi and other Lord Murugan related hymns, in connection with the Kumbhabhisekam, which is scheduled to be held on 07.07.2024.

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It is further submitted that the ceremonies will commence from 01.07.2025 and importance is being given to Tamil, including Panniruthirumurai,

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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Thirupugazh and Kandhar Anupoothi, etc.,

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It is further submitted that already 108 Vedhavamoorthies (Odhuvars) from Sandikeswara Seva Sangam have been identified for the aforesaid performance.

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It is further submitted that there is no scope for entertaining the request of the petitioner at the eleventh hour after all arrangements have been made. However, learned Standing Counsel for the third respondent submits that the petitioner’s request will be considered.

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Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents 1 and 2 and learned Standing Counsel for the third respondent, although the petitioner has rushed to the Court on the eleventh hour and is moving this Court only today, after this Writ Petition was filed on 20.06.2025 without giving breathing time to the third respondent to respond to the petitioner’s representation, dated 17.06.2025, I am of the view that there can be a direction to the second respondent to consider the request of the petitioner in consultation with the third

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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respondent, whether the petitioner can be accommodated in the Velvi Kundam Nigalvu during Kumbhabhisekam.

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It appears that there are no Rules that have been framed for empaneling the persons with qualification and presently, persons are allowed to conduct ceremonies, who are the part of the different trust. Therefore, TNHR&CE Department may also consider the framing of scheme, which will apply uniformly for different temple in future.

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In the result, the respondents 2 and 3 will consider to pass appropriate orders permitting the petitioner to participate in the Kumbhabhisekam to be held on 07.07.2025, if it is feasible. However for the future, the Commissioner shall evolve the scheme, which can be applied for all the temple coming within the purview of TN HR&CE Department.

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It is made clear that the accommodation for allowing the petitioner to perform Velvi Kundam Nigalvu will be strictly subject to the feasibility.

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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This Writ Petition is disposed of, with the above observations. No costs.

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Index : Yes / No 26.06.2025 Internet : Yes / No apd To 1. The Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai. 2. The Commissioner, O/o. the Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

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The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, O/o. the Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple/Tiruchendur Murugan Temple Tiruchendur – 628 215.

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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C.SARAVANAN, J.

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apd

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W.P.(MD) No. 17252 of 2025

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26.06.2025

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

Sureshbabu D v. The Secretary to Government

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Sureshbabu D v. The Secretary to Government

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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