Disposed¶34

R.Venkateshwar, v. the District Collector

Madras HC11 Aug 2025WP(MD)/6361/2019

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Temple land encroachment removal; mandamus under Article 226; Section 78 Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act enforcement proceedings; Srineelakantavinayagar Temple; Natanikottai Village; Peravoorani Taluk; Thanjavur District; 78.62 acres; S.Nos.130-153 and 160-167; HR&CE Department; suo motu impleading of District Revenue Officer; W.P.(MD).No.6361 of 2019; W.M.P.(MD).No.5084 of 2019; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; disposed with directions.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the official respondents to continue and conclude the pending Section 78 enforcement actions expeditiously and remove the encroachments from the temple land; writ petition disposed of with no order as to costs; connected miscellaneous petition closed. ¶34

R.Venkateshwar, Vs the District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

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W.P.(MD).No.6361 of 2019

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 11.08.2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN

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W.P.(MD).No.6361 of 2019 and

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W.M.P.(MD).No.5084 of 2019

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R.Venkateshwar ... Petitioner

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Vs.

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1.The District Collector, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

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2.The Commissioner,

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Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai.

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3.The Joint Commissioner,

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Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Near Temple Tower, Thanjavur.

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4.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Peravoorani Taluk Office, Thanjavur District.

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5.The Executive Officer, Srineelakantavinayagar Temple, Peravoorani, Peravoorani Taluk, Thanjavur District.

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Page 1 of 5

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

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W.P.(MD).No.6361 of 2019

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6.The District Revenue Officer, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

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... Respondents

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(R-6 is suo motu impleaded vide Court order dated 18.03.2019)

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 5 herein to remove the illegal encroachments made in the lands comprised in S.Nos.130 to 153 and Survey Nos.160 to 167 measuring a total extent of 78.62 acres situated at Natanikottai Village, Peravoorani Taluk, Thanjavur District by considering the petitioner's representation dated 04.03.2019.

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For Petitioner : Mr.Mohamed Imran for Mr.K.M.Karunakaran For R-1 to R-4 : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar & R-6 Government Pleader For R-5 : Dr.Ramesh Mahadev

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.)

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The Writ Petition has been instituted seeking direction to the respondents

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1 to 5 herein to remove the encroachments in respect of the temple land.

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Page 2 of 5

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

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W.P.(MD).No.6361 of 2019

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The learned Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, on instructions, would submit that Section 78 proceedings have already been initiated and pending.

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That being so, the official respondents are directed to continue the enforcement actions initiated under Section 78 of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act and conclude the same as expeditiously as possible and remove the encroachments from the temple land.

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With the above direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is

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closed.

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(S.M.S.,J.) (G.A.M.,J.) 11.08.2025

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NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Lm

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1.The District Collector, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

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Page 3 of 5

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