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A.M.Sundaravel Vs The Principal Secretary to… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

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Madras HC
2026
A.M.Sundaravel Vs The Principal Secretary to GovernmA.M.Sundaravel v. The Principal Secretary to Government

Dismissed¶35

A.M.Sundaravel v. The Principal Secretary to Government

Writ of mandamus – Article 226 – temple tank encroachment

Madras HC9 Apr 2026WP(MD)/10035/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; W.P.(MD)No.10035 of 2026; decided 09.04.2026; Bench: G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalandhi, JJ.; writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution for a writ of mandamus directing HR&CE and revenue authorities (respondents 2 to 8) to remove encroachments from and restore the Agni Theertham holy water tank of Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple, Sy.No.83E/14, Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District, and consider the petitioner's representation dated 12.09.2024; earlier identical petition by the same petitioner, W.P.(MD)No.19462 of 2024 (order dated 27.08.2024), relied upon; tank reclassified and bus stand constructed about fifty years ago; relief refused as difficult to undo; petition dismissed without costs; petitioner-in-person A.M. Sundaravel; G.V. Vairam Santhosh, Additional Government Pleader for R-1 to R-7 and R-9; V. Chandrasekaran for R-8.

What did the court decide?

The Court declined to grant relief because the reclassification of the tank and the construction of the bus stand had taken place some fifty years ago, and it is difficult to undo things that took place so long back. ¶35

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing respondents 2 to 8 to remove the encroachments in the Agni Theertham holy water tank of Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple (Sy.No.83E/14, Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District), restore the tank for storage of holy water, and consider the petitioner's representation dated 12.09.2024. +1 more

Court's answer

The writ petition stands dismissed, with no costs.

Ratio / Principle

The Court declined to grant relief because the reclassification of the tank and the construction of the bus stand had taken place some fifty years ago, and it is difficult to undo things that took place so long back.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ of mandamus — Article 226 — temple tank encroachment — restoration of the Agni Theertham holy water tank of Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple, Sy.No.83E/14, Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District — petitioner (party-in-person) sought directions to respondents 2 to 8 to remove encroachments, restore storage of holy water, and consider his representation dated 12.09.2024 — counsel for the eighth respondent (Executive Officer of the temple) drew attention to the earlier order dated 27.08.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.19462 of 2024 filed by the same petitioner in person for the very same relief — the tank had been reclassified and a bus stand constructed some fifty years ago — Division Bench (G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalandhi, JJ.) held it is difficult to undo things that took place so long back and declined relief — writ petition dismissed, no costs.

A

1 W.P.(MD)NO.10035 OF 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 09.04.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

AND

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P.(MD)No.10035 of 2026

A.M.Sundaravel ... Petitioner

Vs.

The Principal Secretary to Government, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu,

Chennai – 600 009.

The Commissioner,

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Nungambakkam,

Chennai – 600 034.

The District Collector, Collectorate Building, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur – 613 010.

The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District.

1/

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

2 W.P.(MD)NO.10035 OF 2026

The District Revenue Officer, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

The Revenue Divisional Officer/ Monitoring Committee, Revenue Divisional Office, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District.

The Tahsildar, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District.

The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple, Thirukattupalli (HR&CE Department), Thanjavur District.

The Executive Officer, Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Thanjavur District. ... Respondents

Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, issuing a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 2 to 8 to remove the encroachments made in holy water tank of the temple, namely, “Agni Theertham” of Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple is situated in Sy.No.83E/14 at Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District and also to restore the same by storage the holy water for the welfare of the worshippers in accordance with law by considering the petitioner's representation dated 12.09.2024 within the stipulated period as framed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.M.Sundaravel, Party-in-person.

2/

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

3 W.P.(MD)NO.10035 OF 2026

For Respondents : Mr.G.V.Vairam Santhosh, Additional Government Pleader for R-1 to R-7 & R-9. Mr.V.Chandrasekaran for R-8. * * *

O R D E R

Heard both sides.

The petitioner herein seeks restoration of the petition

mentioned temple tank.

The learned counsel appearing for the eighth respondent draws our attention to the order dated 27.08.2024 made in W.P. (MD)No.19462 of 2024. The writ petition was filed by the petitioner himself in person for the very same relief. It is seen that the tank was reclassified and a bus stand was constructed. But this had taken place some fifty years ago. It is difficult to undo the things that had taken place so long back. Hence, we are unable to grant relief. This writ petition stands dismissed. No costs.

(G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) & (B.PUGALENDHI, J.) 09.04.2026

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

PMU

3/

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

4 W.P.(MD)NO.10035 OF 2026

To:

The Principal Secretary to Government, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Chennai – 600 009.

The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Nungambakkam,

Chennai – 600 034.

The District Collector, Collectorate Building, Thanjavur District, Thanjavu – 613 010.

The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District.

The District Revenue Officer, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

The Revenue Divisional Officer/ Monitoring Committee, Revenue Divisional Office, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District.

The Tahsildar, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District.

The Executive Officer, Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Thanjavur Districts.

4/

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

5 W.P.(MD)NO.10035 OF 2026

G.R.SWAMINATHAN,J.

AND

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

PMU

W.P.(MD)No.10035 of 2026

09.04.2026

5/

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

Issues for consideration

2 issues framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing respondents 2 to 8 to remove the encroachments in the Agni Theertham holy water tank of Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple (Sy.No.83E/14, Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District), restore the tank for storage of holy water, and consider the petitioner's representation dated 12.09.2024.¶25
The court held
The writ petition stands dismissed, with no costs.ratio¶35
2.
Whether relief can be granted when the tank was reclassified and a bus stand constructed about fifty years ago.¶35
The court held
The Court declined to grant relief because the reclassification of the tank and the construction of the bus stand had taken place some fifty years ago, and it is difficult to undo things that took place so long back.ratio¶35

Cases cited

Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority

AI extract

W.P. (MD)No.19462 of 2024Relied on¶35

Statutes considered

1 provisions across 1 enactments

AI extract

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226¶25

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Prior proceeding
Earlier order dated 27.08.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.19462 of 2024, a writ petition filed by the same petitioner himself in person for the very same relief.¶35
Prior proceeding
Petitioner's representation dated 12.09.2024 to the respondents, consideration of which was sought through the writ petition.¶25

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
A.M. Sundaravel¶26
A.M. Sundaravel
respondent
The Principal Secretary to Government, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu¶10
G.V. Vairam Santhosh
respondent
The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Nungambakkam¶12
G.V. Vairam Santhosh
respondent
The District Collector, Thanjavur District¶15
G.V. Vairam Santhosh
respondent
The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Thanjavur¶16
G.V. Vairam Santhosh
respondent
The District Revenue Officer, Thanjavur District¶20
G.V. Vairam Santhosh
respondent
The Revenue Divisional Officer/ Monitoring Committee, Revenue Divisional Office, Thanjavur¶21
G.V. Vairam Santhosh
respondent
The Tahsildar, Boothalur Taluk, Thanjavur District¶22
G.V. Vairam Santhosh
respondent
The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple, Thirukattupalli (HR&CE Department), Thanjavur District¶23
V. Chandrasekaran
respondent
The Executive Officer, Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat, Thanjavur District¶24
G.V. Vairam Santhosh

Coram

AI extract

G.R. Swaminathanmember¶5
B. Pugalandhimember¶7

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Madras HC
Decided on: 9 Apr 2026 · April
Registered: 8 Apr 2026
Case no.: WP(MD)/10035/2026
CNR: HCMD010501952026
Topic: Writ and Judicial Review
Bench: G.r.swaminathan B.pugalendhi
Disposal: DISMISSED
Case type: W.P.(MD)

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Cite this judgement

A.M.Sundaravel v. The Principal Secretary to Government, WP(MD)/10035/2026 (MAD), decided on 9 April 2026.

The Madras High Court publishes no neutral citation for this judgement — cite it by case number and date of decision.

Cases cited1

W.P. (MD)No.19462 of 2024Relied on¶35

Open Authorities

Statutes1

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226

View all statutes

Procedural history2

Earlier order dated 27.08.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.19462 of 2024, a writ petition filed by the same petitioner himself in person for the very same relief.
Petitioner's representation dated 12.09.2024 to the respondents, consideration of which was sought through the writ petition.

View full history

Bench / Coram

G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalandhi

Parties & counsel