B. Ramkumar Adityan Vs The Additional Chief Secretary

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records in respect of the Impugned Order of the Respondents No.4 and 5 made in Na.Ka.No.1494/2026-1/E2 dated 18.02.2026 downloaded from the 4th Respondent’s Website and quash the same as illegal, and against spirit of direction of this Honble Court Order dated 14.10.2025 in Writ Petition in W.P. (MD). No. 28966 of 2025 and consequently direct the 1st and 2nd Respondents to constitute a Board of Trustees for the 4th Respondent Temple by considering Representation dated 18.12.2025 and 23.02.2026 of the Petitioner.

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For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sankar For R1 to R3 : Mr.Veerakathiravan Additional Advocate General Asst. by Mr. J.Ashok

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Additional Government Pleader

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For R4 & R5 : Mr.A.K.Sriram Senior Counsel for Mr.M.Muthugeethaiyan

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W.P(MD)No. 5761 of 2026

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.)

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The present writ petition has been filed in the Public Interest Litigation challenging the tender notification issued by the respondents for the lease of the shops belonging to the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Na.Ka.No.1494/2026-1/E2, dated 18.02.2026.

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The learned Additional Advocate General for the respondents 1 to 3 brought to the notice of the Court that as per the resolution dated 27.02.2026, the tender has already been cancelled and the same has been communicated to the Commissioner/second respondent. Therefore, the first prayer in this writ petition challenging the impugned tender has become infructuous. As far as the second prayer with regard to the direction to the respondents for constitution of Board of Trustees as per the direction of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.28966 of 2025 dated 14.10.2025 is concerned, though this Court has directed the respondents to expedite the process of constitution of Board of Trustees and complete the exercise within an outer limit of four months, it is stated that pursuant to the said direction of this Court, advertisement has been given

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W.P(MD)No. 5761 of 2026

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in newspaper on 13.01.2026 under Section 46(3) of TNHR&CE Act, 1959. In response to the same, only one person applied. As per the TNHR&CE Act, the Board of Trustees must be five in number, including women and SC/ST. Since only one person applied, that process could not be proceeded further.

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The learned Senior Counsel for the respondents 4 and 5 submits that they have already filed application for extension of time in that writ petition.

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Considering the above facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to reiterate the direction made in W.P.(MD) No.28966 of 2025 dated 14.10.2025. Hence, the respondents are once again directed to constitute the Board of Trustees by giving advertisement in the newspaper widely circulated in the State as well as in the HR&CE Department website and complete the process within a period of four (4) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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W.P(MD)No. 5761 of 2026

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With these observations, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No

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costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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NCS : Yes/No [N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] Index : Yes / No 04.03.2026 Internet : Yes / No apd

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To 1. The Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009. 2. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034.

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The Regional Joint Commissioner, Thoothukudi Region, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Aageshapuram, Thoothukudi - 628 002.

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The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tiruchendur - 628 215.

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W.P(MD)No. 5761 of 2026

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

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apd

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