P.M Chellapandi Vs The Joint Commissioner

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to issue cheque for the balance amount of plate collection that was lying in the account of the temple of Rs.17,91,455/- as per the representation dated 07.01.2025 and 03.07.2025 and pass such further or other orders as this Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.

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W.P(MD)No.22280 of 2025

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For Petitioner : M/s.J.Anandhavalli For R1 : Mr.S.S.Madhavan Additional Government Pleader

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For proposed party: Mr.R.Rajeshkumar

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ORDER

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This writ petition has been filed for a writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to issue cheque for the balance amount of plate collection that was lying in the account of the temple of Rs.17,91,455/- as per the representations dated 07.01.2025 and 03.07.2025.

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It appears that the petitioner was removed from the post of Hereditary Trustee by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department as early as on 06.07.2013. Eventually, the matter reached the Court in A.S.No.25 of 2021, in which the petitioner succeeded on 15.03.2021.

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In the Meanwhile, Tharkar has issued a Office Memorandum dated 16.03.2017 bearing reference Na.Ka.No.12/2017/AA, the content of which reads as under:

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“kJiu khtl;lk;> kJiu tlf;F tl;lk;> Nkykil mUs;kpF ghz;b KdP];tuh; jpUf;Nfhapy; rl;lg;gphpT 48 (iii) d; fPo; gpuRuk; nra;ag;gl;l gl;baiyr; Nrh;e;j jpUf;Nfhapy; Mfk;. ,j;jpUf;Nfhapypy; ghh;it (1)y; fhZk; Jiz

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W.P(MD)No.22280 of 2025

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Mizah; mYtyf x.V.vz;.77 / 1980 ehs;.08.05.1981d; cj;juT %yk; jpUf;Nfhapy; G+i[Kiw ghh;j;J tUk; G+rhhpfSf;F cz;bay; jpwg;gpdpy; tug;ngWk; nkhj;j njhifapy; 50 % gq;F njhifahf toq;f cj;jutplg;gl;L jw;NghJ tiu Nkw;gb jpUf;Nfhapypy; G+i[ Kiw ghh;j;J tUk; G+rhhpfSf;F cz;bay; jpwg;gpdpy; tug;ngWk; nkhj;j njhifapy; 50 % gq;F njhifahf toq;fg;gl;L tug;gLfpwJ.

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ghh;it (2)y; fhZk; Mizah; cj;juT %yk; 07.03.2016y; jf;fhuhfTk;> ghh;it (3)y; fhZk; Mizah; cj;juT %yk; 17.05.2016y; Jiz Mizah; / nray; mYtyuhfTk; nghWg;Gfs; Vw;fg;gl;L eph;thfk; ghh;j;J tug;gLfpwJ.

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ghh;it (4)y; fhZk; ,j;jpUf;Nfhapy; jf;fhh; jPh;khdj;jpd;gb Nkw;gb jpUf;Nfhapy; gf;jh;fshy; %y];jhdj;jpy; fhzpf;ifahf nrYj;jg;gLk; jl;L fhzpf;iffis gf;jh;fs; vz;zg;gb jpUf;Nfhapy; fzf;fpy; nfhz;L tu eltbf;if Nkw;nfhs;sg;gl;Ls;sJ. Nkw;gb jpUf;Nfhapy; G+i[ Kiw kw;Wk; gf;jh;fs; %y];jhdj;jpy; nrYj;Jk; fhzpf;iffis fz;fhzpf;f ghh;it 5y; fhZk; ,iz Mizauhy; rpwg;G gzpahsh;fs; epakzk; nra;J cj;jutplg;gl;Ls;sJ.

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vdNt> 17.03.2017 Kjy; jpUf;NfhapYf;F tUif jUk; gf;jh;fshy; %y];jhdj;jpy; fhzpf;ifahf nrYj;Jk; jl;L fhzpf;iffis gf;jh;fs; vz;zg;gb jpUf;Nfhapy; fzf;fpw;F nfhz;L tu Nkw;gb jpUf;Nfhapy; gzpahsh;fSf;F ,jd; %yk; cj;jutplg;gLfpwJ.”

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There were several collateral proceedings pending at different stages

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before different Courts. As far as Office Memorandum dated 16.03.2017 of

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the Tharkar/Joint Commissioner of the temple is concerned, the Hon'ble Supreme Court by its order dated 29.01.2020, quashed the same in so far as plate collection is concerned.

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W.P(MD)No.22280 of 2025

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The case of the petitioner is that on the strength of the various interim orders, the petitioner was collecting 50% of the plate collection. However, balance has not been paid to the petitioner till date. Therefore, the petitioner has made a representation to the first respondent, which has not evoked any response so far.

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The learned Additional Government Pleader for the first respondent on the other hand submits that there are totally 8 hereditary trustees, but the petitioner has conveniently impleaded only the second respondent, who is none other than the petitioner's brother, who is sailing together with the petitioner.

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Mr.R.Rajesh Kumar, learned counsel appears on behalf of Ponupandi

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and Jaiveera Pandian, who are some of the hereditary trustees of the temple.

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The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that they are not the hereditary trustees and they are only the members of the interim committee appointed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 29.01.2020 in Civil Appeal No.803 of 2020 (arising out of SLP(c)No.18818 of 2018).

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W.P(MD)No.22280 of 2025

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Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader for the first respondent, I am inclined to dispose of this writ petition by directing the first respondent to consider the petitioner's request for payment of balance plate collection (Thatu Kasu) after due notice to all the hereditary trustees, who are entitled to such plate collection. This exercise shall be completed by the respondents within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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