The Financial Administrator Vs Maruthu D Devan — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

The Financial Administrator Vs Maruthu D Devan — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None; the writ appeals were dismissed as infructuous, connected miscellaneous petitions were closed, and there was no order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the writ appeals challenging the learned Single Judge's order dated 27.10.2025 directing the Court appointed Administrator, Hon'ble Dr.Justice P.Jyothimani, to resume his charge and continue the election process of the Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese should be entertained. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

As the prime issue relating to the election process is already over, nothing survives in these writ appeals.

Key takeaways

Since the civil suits are pending, the parties shall agitate their rights in the pending suit based on evidence and pleadings.ratio¶185
The writ appeals are dismissed as infructuous; consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed and there is no order as to costs.ratio¶186

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

WRIT APPEAL (CLAUSE 15, LETTERS PATENT) - THOOTHUKUDI NAZARETH DIOCESE ELECTION - DISMISSED AS INFRUCTUOUS. A batch of eight writ appeals (W.A.(MD) Nos.3069, 3070, 3071, 3072, 3091, 3092, 3093 of 2025 & 3 of 2026) challenged the order dated 27.10.2025 of the learned Single Judge in W.P.(MD) Nos.28202, 29598 and 29868 of 2025 directing the Court appointed Administrator, Hon'ble Dr.Justice P.Jyothimani, to resume his charge and continue the election process of the Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese. By the time the appeals came up, the entire election process had concluded and been approved by the Synod; the Principal Bench had already concluded O.S.A.No.10 of 2026 on the same issue, and the S.L.P.Nos.5272 & 5282 of 2026 arising therefrom stood dismissed by the Supreme Court; civil suits C.S.Nos.311 of 2026 and 4 of 2026 were pending before the Madras High Court. Holding that nothing survived in the writ appeals, the Division Bench (N.Sathish Kumar, J. authoring) dismissed them as infructuous, closed the connected miscellaneous petitions, made no order as to costs, and left the parties to agitate their rights in the pending civil suits on evidence and pleadings.

W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 16.03.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN

W.A.(MD) Nos.3069, 3070, 3071, 3072, 3091, 3092, 3093 of 2025 & 3 of 2026 and

C.M.P.(MD)Nos.17676, 17687, 17688, 17691, 18028, 18030, 18029 of 2025, 1781, 8 & 7 of 2026

1. W.A.(MD) No.3069 of 2025:

The Financial Administrator The CSI Thoothukudi - Nazareth Diocese 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

... Appellant

-vs-

1.Maruthu D Devan

2.Church of South India rep.by its Moderator CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road Royapettah Chennai-600 014

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

3.General Secretary No.5, Whites Road Royapettah Chennai-600 014

4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad Moderator's Commissary 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

5.D.Neegar Prince Giftson

6.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan

7.The Director of Collegiate Education 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet Chennai-15

8.The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Tirunelveli Region Tirunelveli

9.District Educational Officer Thoothukudi ... Respondents

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,

dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) Nos.28202, 29598 and 29868 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.21922, 21924, 21925, 21927, 21929, 22897, 22898 and 22899,

23107, 23108, 23109 of 2025, on the file of this Court.

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For Appellant

W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

: Mr.A.M.Packianathan Easter

For Respondents : Mr.P.P.Alwin Balan for R1 Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R7 to R9

2. W.A.(MD) No.3070 of 2025:

The Church of South India rep.by its General Secretary CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014 Chennai ... Appellant

-vs-

1.S.Arul Mayer

2.M.Mal Sornapandian

3.D.Rajmohan

4.Y.Chinnaraja Vinothkumar

5.P.Franklin Asaf Jebaraj

6.The C.S.I.-Thoothukudi

Nazareth Diocese rep.by the Moderator Commissary The Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

Thoothukudi-628 001

7.Administrative Secretary CSI-Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

8.The District Collector Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District

9.The District Educational Officer Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District

10.D.Ebenezer Magalaraj

... Respondents

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order, dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.28202 of 2025, on the file of this Court.

For Appellant : Ms.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates For Respondents : Mr.J.Kingsly Solomon for R1 to R5 Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R8 & R9

\3. W.A.(MD) No.3071 of 2025:

1.Church of South India rep.by its Moderator CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road Royapettah

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

Chennai-600 014

2.The General Secretary No.5, Whites Road Royapettah Chennai-600 014

... Appellants

-vs-

1.Maruthu D Devan

2.The Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad Moderators Commissary 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

3.D.Neegar Prince Giftson

4.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan

5.The Financial Administrator The CSI Thoothukudi – Nazareth Diocese 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

6.The Director of Collegiate Education 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet Chennai-15

7.The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Tirunelveli Region Tirunelveli

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8.District Educational Officer Thoothukudi

W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

... Respondents

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order, dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29868 of 2025, on the file of this Court.

For Appellants : Ms.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates For Respondents : Mr.Prabhu Rajadurai for Mr.P.P.Alwin Balan for R1 Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R6 to R8

4. W.A.(MD) No.3072 of 2025:

1.Church of South India rep.by its Moderator CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre No.5, Whites Road Royapettah Chennai-600 014 2.The General Secretary No.5, Whites Road Royapettah Chennai-600 014 ... Appellants

-vs-

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

1.Jackrecen Joseph

2.The Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad Moderators Commissary 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

3.D.Neegar Prince Giftson

4.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan

5.The District Collector The District Collector Office Thoothukudi District

6.The District Educational Officer Thoothukudi Thoothukudi District

... Respondents

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order, dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29598 of 2025, on the file of this

Court.

For Appellants : Ms.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates

For Respondents : Mr.K.K.Udayakumar for R1 Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R5 & R6

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

5. W.A.(MD) No.3091 of 2025:

Administrative Secretary C.S.I.-Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

... Appellant

-vs-

1.S.Arul Mayer

2.M.Mal Sornapandian

3.D.Rajmohan

4.Y.Chinnaraja Vinothkumar

5.P.Franklin Asaf Jebaraj

6.Church of South India rep.by its General Secretary CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014

7.The C.S.I.-Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese rep.by its Moderator Commissary Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

8.The District Collector Thoothukudi

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

9.The District Educational Officer Thoothukudi

10.D.Ebenezer Mangalaraj ... Respondents

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order, dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.28202 of 2025, on the file of this Court.

For Appellant : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar For Respondents : Mr.J.Kingsly Solomon for R1 to R5 Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R8 & R9

6.W.A.(MD) No.3092 of 2025:

D.Neeger Prince Giftson ... Appellant

-vs-

1.Jackerecen Joseph

2.The Church of South India rep.by its General Secretary CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014

3.General Secretary No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014 4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese

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rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad Moderator's Commissary 100, Beach Road, Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

5.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan

6.The District Collector The District Collector Office Thoothukudi

7.District Educational Officer Thoothukudi

... Respondents

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,

dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29598 of 2025, on the file of this

Court.

For Appellant : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar For Respondents : Mr.K.K.Udayakumar for R1 Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R6 & R7

7.W.A.(MD) No.3093 of 2025:

D.Neeger Prince Giftson ... Appellant

-vs-

1.Maruthu D Devan

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2.The Church of South India rep.by its General Secretary CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014

W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

3.General Secretary No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014

4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad Moderator's Commissary 100, Beach Road, Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

5.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan

6.The Financial Administrator The CSI-Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus Thoothukudi-628 001

7.The Director of Collegiate Education 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet Chennai-15

8.The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Tirunelveli Region Tirunelveli

9.The District Educational Officer Thoothukudi

... Respondents

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order, dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29868 of 2025, on the file of this Court.

For Appellant : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar For Respondents : Mr.P.P.Alwin Balan for R1 Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R7 to R9

8. W.A.(MD) No.3 of 2026:

Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan

... Appellant

-vs-

1.Jackrecen Joseph

2.The Church of South India rep.by its General Secretary CSI Synod Secretariat CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014

3.General Secretary No.5, Whites Road Royapettah, Chennai-600 014

4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad Moderator's Commissary 100, Beach Road Caldwell School Campus

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

Thoothukudi-628 001

5.D.Neegar Prince Giftson

6.The District Collector The District Collector Office Thoothukudi

7.The District Educational Officer Thoothukudi District ... Respondents

Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order, dated dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) Nos.28202, 29598 and 29868 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.21922, 21924, 21925, 21927, 21929, 22897, 22898 and 22899, 23107, 23108, 23109 of 2025, on the file of this Court.

For Appellant : Mr.S.Wilson For Respondents : Mr.G.Prabhu Rajadurai for Mr.K.K.Udayakumar for R1 Mr.J.Ashok

Additional Government Pleader for R6 & R7

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COMMON JUDGMENT

W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

[Judgment of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.)

The instant writ appeals have been filed challenging the order of the learned Single Judge directing the Court appointed Administrator, Hon'ble Dr.Justice P.Jyothimani to resume his charge and continue the election process and take it to its logical conclusion.

2.The issue is with regard to the election process for the Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese. There were several litigations with regard to this issue.

3.In O.S.A.No.10 of 2026 filed with regard to the same issue, the Principal Bench of this Court has elaborately discussed the issue and concluded the original side appeal. Later the said order was also challenged before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in S.L.P.Nos.5272 & 5282 of 2026 and the said Special Leave Petitions were also dismissed. Now it appears that the entire election process has already been over and the Synod has also approved the election process conducted by Hon'ble Dr.Justice P.Jyothimani.

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

4.Now, suits have also been filed in C.S.Nos.311 of 2026 and 4 of 2026 and are pending before the Madras High Court, challenging certain actions.

5.In such view of the matter, as the prime issue relating to the election process is already over, we are of the definite opinion that nothing survives in these writ appeals. Since the civil suits are pending, let the parties shall agitate their rights in the pending suit based on the evidence and pleadings.

6.Accordingly, the writ appeals are dismissed as infructuous.

Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no

order as to costs.

[N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 16.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No ta

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

To

1.The Director of Collegiate Education, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai-15.

2.The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli.

3.The District Educational Officer, Thoothukudi.

4.The District Collector, Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District.

5.The District Educational Officer, Tirunelveli.

6.The District Educational Officer, Tenkasi District.

7.The Registrar of Companies, Southern Region, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Shastri Bhawan, Chennai-600 006.

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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

N.SATHISH KUMAR,J. and M.JOTHIRAMAN,J.

ta

W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch

16.03.2026

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