Disposed¶33

L.Venkidusamy v. The Joint Commissioner

Madras HC20 Feb 2026WP(MD)/4855/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Time-bound disposal direction; O.A.No.11 of 2000 pending before Joint Commissioner, HR&CE Department, Tiruchirappalli; enquiry and declaration regarding custom and usage in festival conduct at Sri Mariamman and Sri Pidariamman temples; Writ of Mandamus under Article 226; disposal on merits within three months; no opinion expressed on merits; notice to second respondent dispensed with; disposed of, no costs.

What did the court decide?

Direction (mandamus) to the first respondent to dispose of O.A.No.11 of 2000 on merits and in accordance with law within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order; writ petition disposed of with no costs. ¶33

L.Venkidusamy Vs The Joint Commissioner — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the first respondent should be directed, by a Writ of Mandamus, to dispose of the pending O.A.No.11 of 2000 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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Court's answer

This Court directs the first respondent to dispose of O.A.No.11 of 2000 on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Ratio / Principle

In granting the limited relief sought, the Court did not express any opinion on the merits of the underlying matter concerning the custom and usage in the festival conduct.

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Key takeaways

Since no adverse order was proposed to be passed against the second respondent, notice to the second respondent was dispensed with; the learned Special Government Pleader took notice for the first respondent.ratio¶23-24

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (Madurai Bench, Madras High Court) under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by L.Venkidusamy seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tiruchirappalli (first respondent) to dispose of O.A.No.11 of 2000, filed by the petitioner along with others seeking an enquiry and a declaration regarding the custom and usage prevailing in the conduct of the festival in the temples of Sri Mariamman and Sri Pidariamman, within a time frame fixed by the Court. Notice to the second respondent (R.Selvaraj) was dispensed with as no adverse order was proposed against him. Without expressing any opinion on the merits, Krishnan Ramasamy, J. directed the first respondent to dispose of the Original Application on merits and in accordance with law within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. The Writ Petition stands disposed of; no costs.

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.W.P.(MD) No.4855 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENGH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 20.02.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY

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W.P.(MD)No.4855 of 2026

L.Venkidusamy

... Petitioner

1.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tiruchirappalli.

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2.R.Selvaraj

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... Respondents

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Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to dispose the proceedings in O.A.No.11 of 2000 pending on the file of the first respondent herein in accordance with law.

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For Petitioner : Mr.Niranjan S.Kumar For R-1 : Mr.K.Balasubramani, Special Government Pleader

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ORDER

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This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the first

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respondent to dispose of the proceedings in O.A.No.11 of 2000 pending

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on the file of the first respondent, in accordance with law.

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

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.W.P.(MD) No.4855 of 2026

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2. Mr.K.Balasubramani, learned Special Government Pleader,

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takes notice for the first respondent. Since no adverse order is proposed

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to be passed against the second respondent, notice to the second respondent is dispensed with.

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3.The petitioner, along with others, filed a petition in O.A.No.11 of 2000 before the first respondent seeking an enquiry and for a declaration regarding the custom and usage prevailing in the conduct of the festival in the temples of Sri Mariamman and Sri Pidariamman. The limited relief

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sought in the present Writ Petition is for a direction to the first respondent to dispose of the said Original Application within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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4. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the first respondent would submit that the petition in O.A.No.11 of 2000 would be disposed of in accordance with law.

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5. Considering the limited request made by the petitioner and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this Court

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

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.W.P.(MD) No.4855 of 2026

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directs the first respondent to dispose of O.A.No.11 of 2000 on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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6. With the above direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed of.

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No costs.

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20.02.2026

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TSG Speaking/Non-speaking order Index : Yes / No Neutral Citation : Yes / No

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To The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tiruchirappalli.

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