T.Venkatesan Vs The joint Commissioner — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

T.Venkatesan Vs The joint Commissioner — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner permitted to officiate as priest in terms of the undertaking affidavit recorded by the Court; writ petition disposed of with no costs and connected miscellaneous petition closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue forbearing the second respondent from interfering with the petitioners' legitimate rights as poosari of Arulmigu Alamelu Mangai Ammal Temple, Thiruvannamalai, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District, on the basis of the orders dated 10.04.1987 made in O.A.No.17 of 1985 and dated 22.11.2024 made in W.P.(MD) No.23251 of 2024.

Court's answer

The petitioner is permitted to officiate as priest of the temple in terms of the undertaking affidavit filed by the second petitioner (rotation pooja of 10 days each in every English month along with Manjula and Govindarajan, non-interference with other poojaris, daily handing over of keys to the night watchman and thereafter to the Maniam, engagement of only one assistant, and abidance by the orders to be passed in the pending O.As).

Ratio / Principle

Recording the said undertaking, the writ petition stands disposed of with no costs, and the connected miscellaneous petition (W.M.P(MD)No.22583 of 2025) is closed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), G.R. Swaminathan J. — W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025 disposed of on 17.10.2025 by recording an undertaking. The writ petitioners, claiming to officiate as priests (poosaris) of Arulmigu Alamelu Mangai Ammal Temple, Thiruvannamalai, Srivilliputhur, had sought a mandamus under Article 226 forbearing the second respondent (Executive Officer, Arulmigu Sri Natchiyar (Andal) Temple) from interfering with their rights on the basis of orders dated 10.04.1987 in O.A.No.17 of 1985 and dated 22.11.2024 in W.P.(MD) No.23251 of 2024. The second petitioner filed an undertaking affidavit agreeing to perform pooja on the existing rotation basis (10 days each in every English month along with Manjula, Govindarajan) subject to the result of the pending O.A.; not to interfere with other poojaris; to hand over keys daily to the night watchman and after his rotation to the temple Maniam; to engage only one assistant; to abide by the Joint Commissioner's orders in the O.A. filed by him and in O.A.No.44 of 2024 filed by the first petitioner; and to conduct poojas to the satisfaction of devotees. Recording the undertaking, the Court permitted the petitioner to officiate as priest on those terms and disposed of the writ petition with no costs, closing the connected W.M.P(MD)No.22583 of 2025.

W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 17.10.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)No.22583 of 2025

1.T.Venkatesan

2.Prasanna Devi

... Petitioners

Vs.

1.The Joint Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Ellis Nagar, Madurai.

2.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Sri Natchiyar (Andal) Temple, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District. ... Respondents

Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the second respondent from interfering with out legitimate rights as poosari of

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W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025

Arulmigu Alamelu Mangai Ammal Temple, Thiruvannamalai, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District on the basis of the orders dated 10.04.1987 made in O.A.No.17 of 1985, 22.11.2024 made in W.P.(MD) No.23251 of 2024.

For Petitioners : Mr.R.G.Shankar Ganesh For Respondents : Mr.P.subbaraj Special Government Pleader for R.1

Mr.M.Kannan for R.2

ORDER

Heard both sides.

2.The writ petitioners are officiating as priests in the petition mentioned temple. Some issues arose on account of the conduct of the second petitioner. The second petitioner has filed an undertaking affidavit and it reads as follows:

2. I state that we will do the pooja in accordance with the rotation basis which is already in vogue in the temple. i.e., 10 days each in every English month along with Manjula, Govindarajan subject to the result of the O.A.

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W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025

3.I state that I will not interfere in the pooja performance of the other poojaries during their period of performance of poojas.

4.I state that every day after the temple is closed, I will handover the keys in the Sannathi to the night watchman and receive it back in the morning.

5.I state that after my period of pooja in rotation is completed, I will handover the keys of the room where the pooja materials are kept to the Maniam of the Temple.

6.I state that if I require any assistance during performance of the pooja, I will engage only one other person.

7.I state that I will abide by the orders to be passed by the Joint Commissioner in the Original Application filed by me and the O.A.No.44 of 2024 filed by the 1^st Petitioner and will abide by the lawful directions being issued by the 2^nd Respondent in the Temple. The O.As can be decided independently and this arrangement will be till the decision in OAs.

8.I will conduct the poojas to the utmost satisfaction of the devotees.”

3.The petitioner is permitted to officiate as priest in terms of the aforesaid undertaking.

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W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025

4.Recording the said undertaking, this writ petition stands

disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

17.10.2025

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No MGA

To

1.The Joint Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Ellis Nagar, Madurai.

2.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Sri Natchiyar (Andal) Temple, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District.

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W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

MGA

W.P(MD)No.29178 of 2025

17.10.2025

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