High Court · 2025

Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 08.07.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESHWrit Petition No.24495 of 2025andW.M.P.No.27604 of 2025Sri Sakthi Periyamariamman Temple,represented by its Secretary P.Arjunan,Thangapuripattinam Village,Mettur Dam, Salem District.... PetitionerVs.1.The Additional Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments, St.George Fort, Chennai.2.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious Charitable & Endowment Department, Kottai Mariamman Thirukovil Office, Salem.3.The Executive Officer, Hindu Religious Charitable & Endowment Department, Arulmigu Sokkanathar Thirukovil, Mettur Town and Taluk, Salem District.... RespondentsWrit Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus forbearing the respondents from peaceful administration of the petitioner's temple in the guise of the proceedings of the first respondent in G.O.(Pa) No.223 dated 16.05.2025.1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025For Petitioner: Mr.R.NalliyappanFor Respondents: Mr.S.Ravichandran, Additional Government Pleader*****O R D E RThis writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus forbearing the respondents from interfering with the peaceful administration of the petitioner temple in the guise of implementing the proceedings of the first respondent dated 16.05.2025.2. Heard Mr.R.Nalliyappan, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for respondents.3. The case of the petitioner is that Arulmigu Sri Sakthi Periyamariamman Temple is being maintained and administered for the last 70 years by the village people. While so, by taking advantage of the proceedings of the first respondent dated 16.05.2025 wherein non-hereditary trustees were appointed for another Arulmigu Thangamalai Periyamariamman Temple, Mettur, an attempt is being made to interfere with the affairs of the petitioner temple. It is under these circumstances, 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025the present writ petition came to be filed before this Court.4. When the matter was taken up for hearing, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents produced the written instructions received from the second respondent. The relevant portions are extracted hereunder:@,j;jpUf;nfhapYf;F Jiw rl;ltpjpfSf;Fg;gl;L guk;giu Kiw tHprhuh mw';fhtyh; epakdk; bra;tJ Fwpj;J. ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 2-d; go mwptpg;g[ btspaplg;gl;L. tpz;zg;g';fs; tuntw;fg;gl;L. ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 7-y; fhQqk; ,t;tYtyf cj;jutpd;go 1/jpUkjp/yjhkzp. 2/jpU/g/fe;jrhkp kw;Wk; 3/jpU/uh/ghyRg;ukzpak; Mfpa K:d;W egh;fis cjtp Mizah; epiyapYk;. ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 11-y; fhQqk; murhizapd; go 1/jpU/eh/MWKfk;. 2/jpU/uh/utpRe;jh;. Mfpa ,uz;L egh;fs; muR ehkpndrd; K:YKk; guk;giu my;yhj mw';fhtyuhf epakpf;fg;gl;Ls;sdh; vdw; tpguk; gzpe;J bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/ nkw;fhz; cj;jut[fspd; nghpy; ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 12-d;go mw';fhtyh; FG jiyth; njh;jy; elj;jp mwpf;if rkh;g;gpj;jpl ruf Ma;tUf;F cj;jutplg;gl;lij bjhlh;e;J. 16/06/2025 - md;W ruf Ma;tuhy; mw';fhtyh; FG jiyth; njh;jy; elj;jg;gl;L. jpUkjp/yjhkzp. f/bg/utp vd;gth; mw';fhtyh; FG jiytuhf njh;e;bjLf;fg;gl;L bghWg;ngw;fg;gl;Ls;sJ vd;w tpguk; bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/,j;jpUf;nfhapypd; guk;giu KiwtHprhuh mw';fhtyh; epakdk; bra;jpl mwptpg;g[ btspaplg;gl;lnghJ jpUf;nfhapypd; miktplk; bjhlh;ghf Ml;nrgiz Fwpj;J Vw;gl;Ls;s rh;r;ir bjhlh;ghf ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 4-d;go jf;fhuhy; miktplr;rhd;W nfho tpz;zg;gpf;fg;gl;Ls;s 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025epiyapy; ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 6-d;go tl;lhl;rpauhy; miktplr;rhd;W mspf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ vd;w tpguk; bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/mjd;go tl;lhl;;rpauhy; mspf;fg;gl;l mwpf;ifapy;. nryk; khtl;lk;. nkl;L:h; tl;lk;. j';fkhg[hpgl;ozk;. mUs;kpF _ rf;jp bghpa khhpak;kd; nfhapy; (k) mUs;kpF j';fkiy bghpa khhpak;kd; jpUf;nfhapYk; Mfpa ,uz;L jpUf;nfhapy;fSk; xd;nw vdt[k;. ,j;jpUf;nfhapy; ,j;Jiwapd; fPH; tug;bgw;w jpUf;nfhapy; vdt[k; miktplr;rhd;wpy; bjhptpf;fg;gl;lJ vd;w tpguk; bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/nkYk; ,j;jpUf;nfhapy; bgahpy; _ rf;jp bghpa khhpak;kd; njt!;jhdk; mwf;fl;lis vd;w bgahpy;. ,j;Jiw mDkjpapd;wp nkl;L:h; rhh;gjpthsh; mYtyfj;jpy; 2002 tUlj;jpa 4 g[j;jf Mtz vz; 33/2022 gjpt[ bra;ag;gl;Ls;sjhft[k;. nkw;go Mtzj;ij uj;J bra;a eltof;if nkw;bfhs;SkhWk;. jpUf;nfhapy; bgahpy;. jdp egh;fs; njt!;jhdk; mwf;fl;lis vd gjpt[ bra;jJ rl;lj;jpw;F g[wk;ghd bray; vdt[k;. Mfnt. jpUf;nfhapy; bgahpy; ou!;l; gjpt[ bra;ag;gl;oUe;jhy; mjid uj;J bra;jpLkhWk; ,dp tUk; fhy';fspy; jpUf;nfhapy; bgahpy; vt;tpj mwf;fl;lisfSk; gjpt[ bra;af; TlhJ vdt[k; ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 3-y; fhQqk; ,t;tYtyf Fwpg;gpd;go nkl;L:h;. rhh; gjpthsiuf; nfl;Lf;bfhs;sg;gl;lJ.mjd; bjhlh;r;rpahf ghh;it 5 -y; fhQqk; Fwpg;gpy; bghUspy; fhQqk; jpUf;nfhapy; nkl;L:h; tl;lk; mUs;kpF j';fkiy bghpa khhpak;kd; jpUf;nfhapy; kw;Wk; nkl;L:h; tl;lk;. j';fkhg[hp gl;lzk; mUs;kpF rf;jp bghpa khhpak;kd; jpUf;nfhapy; vd gy bgah;fspy; miHf;fg;gLtjhf kD tug;bgw;Ws;sjhy;. nkw;go jpUf;nfhapy; bgahpy; tH';fg;gl;Ls;s Mizfspd; bka;j;jd;ik rhd;wpid mDg;gp itf;FkhW khtl;l gjpthsuhy; nfl;Lf;bfhs;sg;gl;Ls;sJ/mjd;go nkl;L:h; tl;lhl;rpah; mwpf;ifapd; go nkw;go jpUf;nfhapy; nkl;L:h; tl;lk;. gp/vd;/gl;o. 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025FU:g; fpuhkk;. j';fkhhpgl;ozk; vd;w ,lj;jpy; nkl;L:h; efuhid fzf;Ffspy; thh;L -D. gpshf; -1 efu g[y vz; 13/36 B. gug;g[ 0/3694/0 r/kP ej;jk; tifghL bra;ag;gl;L Fwpg;g[ fyj;jpy; mUs;kpF rf;jp bghpa khhpak;kd; nfhapy; kw;Wk; tpehafh; nfhtpy; vd Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;sjhft[k; bjhptpf;fg;gl;L. nryk; khtl;lk;. nkl;L:h; tl;lk;. j';fkhg[hpgl;ozk;. mUs;kpF _ rf;jp bghpa khhpak;kd; nfhapy; (k) mUs;kpF j';fkiy bghpa khhpak;kd; jpUf;nfhapYk; Mfpa ,uz;L jpUf;nfhapy;fSk; xd;nw vdt[k; bjhptpf;fg;gl;ljd; mog;gilapy;. jkpH;ehL rl;l tpjp jpUj;j 77A-d;go _rf;jp bghpakhhpak;kd; jpUf;nfhapy; njt!;jhdk; vd;w mwf;fl;lis bgahpy; gjpt[ bra;Js;s Mtzj;ij ,uj;J bra;J Miz gpwg;gpf;f ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 8 -d;go khtl;l gjpthsiuf; nfl;Lf;bfhs;sg;gl;lJ/ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 9-y; fhQqk; rhh; gjpthsh; Fwpg;gpy;. nkw;go jpUf;nfhapypd; fl;lis gjpit ,uj;J bra;a[k; mjpfhuk; gjpt[j;Jiwf;F ,y;iy vdt[k; ,uj;J bra;tJ Fwpj;J chpa ePjpkd;wj;jpid mQqfp ghpfhuk; bgw;Wf;bfhs;SkhWk; mwpf;if tug;bgw;Ws;sij bjhlh;e;J. ghh;it Fwpg;g[ 10-d;go jpUf;nfhapypd; jf;fhUf;F mwpt[Wj;jg;gl;L chpikapay; ePjpkd;wj;jpid ehl ghprPyizapy; cs;sJ vd;w tpguk; bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/vdnt ,j;Jiwapd; MSifapd; fPH; cs;s xU jpUf;nfhapy; bgahpy; Jiw mDkjpapd;wp. jdpg;gl;l egh;fshy; jd;dpr;irahf _ rf;jp bghpakhhpak;kd; jpUf;nfhapy; njt!;jhd mwf;fl;lis Vw;gLj;jpf;bfhz;L ,j;Jiw MSifapd; fPH; ,y;yhj jpUf;nfhapy; vd bgha;ahd r';fjpfis brhy;yp hpl; kDjhuuhy;. cah;ePjpkd;wj;jpy; tHf;F jhf;fy; bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ vd;w tpguKk;. nkw;go mwf;fl;lisapid ,uj;J bra;jpl tl;lhl;rpah; mwpf;ifapd; mog;gilapyk;. rhh;gjpthsh; mwpf;ifapd; mog;gilapYk;. ePjpkd;wj;jpid ehol eltof;ifapy; cs;sJ vd;w tpguKk;. ,j;Jiw MSiff;Fl;gl;l jpUf;nfhapYf;F rl;lg;gphpt[ 26(1) -d;go guk;giu my;yhj mw';fhtyh; epakdk; bra;jpl Kiwahf mwptpg;g[ btspaplg;gl;L. tpz;zg;g';fs; tuntw;fg;gl;L. murhizg;go Ie;J egh;fs; epakdk; bra;ag;gl;L gjtpnaw;fg;gl;Ls;sJ 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025vd;w tpguKk;. nkYk; ,j;jpUf;nfhapYf;F nryk; cjtp Mizah; e/f/vz;/8918/1981-4/m4 ehs; 14/09/1981 -d;go guk;giu Kiw tHprhuh mw';fhtyh; epakdk; bra;ag;gl;L eph;thfk; ftdpf;fg;gl;L te;Js;sJ vd;w tpguKk;//////@ 5. On carefully considering the submissions made on either side and the materials available on record and also considering the written instructions given by the second respondent, it is seen that the appointment of non-hereditary trustees pertained to Arulmigu Thangamalai Periyamariamman Temple, Mettur. There is similarity in the names since the name of the petitioner temple is Arulmigu Sri Sakthi Periyamariamman Temple. Therefore, the grievance of the petitioner is that an attempt is being made by non-hereditary trustees to interfere with the affairs of the temple. The written instructions makes it clear that the appointment of the non-hereditary trustees is only to manage and administer the Arulmigu Thangamalai Periyamariamman Temple, Mettur. That apart, steps are also being taken to question the registration of the name of the petitioner as Sri Sakthi Periyamariamman Temple.6. In the light of the above stand taken by the respondents, the 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025grievance expressed by the petitioner is sufficiently answered. If the respondents are questioning the registration of the name of the petitioner before the concerned District Registrar under the Societies Registration Act, it has to be independently worked out in the manner known to law.This writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.08.07.2025Neutral Citation: Yes/NoIndex: yes/noSpeaking Order/Non-Speaking OrdergmTo1.The Additional Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments, St.George Fort, Chennai.2.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious Charitable & Endowment Department, Kottai Mariamman Thirukovil Office, Salem.3.The Executive Officer, Hindu Religious Charitable & Endowment Department, Arulmigu Sokkanathar Thirukovil, Mettur Town and Taluk, Salem District.N.ANAND VENKATESH, J7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.24495 of 2025gmWrit Petition No.24495 of 202508.07.20258/8