Law Officers – Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Engagement of Senior Counsels to defend the cases on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in Supreme Court of India and High Courts – Panel of Senior Counsels — Approved — Orders – Issued.

ABSTRACT
Law Officers – Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Engagement of Senior Counsels to defend the cases on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in Supreme Court of India and High Courts – Panel of Senior Counsels — Approved — Orders – Issued.

Tourism, Culture and Reliaious Endowments (RE. 1.1) Department
G.O.(MS) No.464 Dated 22.11.2025.
06
— 2056
Read:
1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, letter Na.Ka. No.88541/2023/N2, dated 24.12.2024 and 29.03.2025
2. From the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu, High Court, Chennai, letter Roc.No.117/2025/AGPSR, dated 28-03.2025.
ORDER:
In the letter read above, the Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has stated that there are more than 2000 cases pending against the Hindu Religious Endowments Department in the Supreme Court and the High Court, and an average of 25 new cases are filed against the department every day. An average of 50 cases are listed for hearing every day in the Chennai and Madurai High Court branches. At present, the above cases are being handled by Special Government Pleaders allocated to the Hindu Religious Endowments Department. The above Special Government Pleaders are carrying out tasks such as vetting and filing counter affidavit in the cases, filing appeals in the cases ordered against the department and providing legal opinions. Most of the cases are against the Government’s policy decisions and various sections of the Hindu Religious Endowments Act are said to be unconstitutional, and the protection of ancient monuments, appointment of trustees, fixing minimum wage for temple employees, maintenance of elephants. Further, various cases regarding utilization of surplus funds of temples, appointment of executive officers for temples etc. have been filed by various persons in the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the High Courts,
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Chennai and Madurai branch are pending. The above cases are listed from time to time and come up for hearing on various dates. During such hearings, the Government Advocate registered for the Supreme Court, the Special Government Advocate for the High Courts and the Government Advocates are appearing on behalf of the Government and the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments. Hence, the Commissioner has stated that it is necessary to present additional arguments in the courts in the above cases, and therefore, it would be helpful for the Government and the Department to conduct cases in important and sensitive cases by experienced and learned senior lawyers.
2. The Commissioner has requested to appoint the following panel of lawyers to appear and conduct cases jn the Supreme Court and the High Court on behalf of the Government and the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments:-
i. Thiru R.Shanmugasundaram, Senior Advocate, Hi h Court Madras.
Thiru N.Jothi, Senior Advocate, Hi h Court Madras.
iii. Thiru A.K.Sriram, Senior Advocate, Hi h Court Madras.
iv. Thiru R. Baranidharan, Advocate, Hi h Court Madras.
3. In the letter second read above, the Advocate General has concurred with the proposal of engaging the above Panel of Advocates to appear in the Supreme Court and the High Court on behalf of the Government and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.
4. The Government after careful examination of the proposal have decided to accept it. Accordingly, the Government approve the panel consisting of the following Senior Counsels to defend the cases in the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts on behalf of the Government and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, as recommended by the Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, and concurred by the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu:
Thiru R.Shanmugasundaram, Senior Advocate, High Court, Madras.
Thiru N.Jothi, Senior Advocate, High Court, Madras.
iii. Thiru A.K.Sriram, Senior Advocate, High Court, Madras.
iv. Thiru R.Baranjdharan, Advocate, High Court, Madras.
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5. The Government also direct that the fees payable to the legal officers shall be as per the rates fixed by the Home (Courts) / Public (LO) Departments, as the case may be.
6. This order issues with the concurrence of the Home (Courts) Department / Public (Law Officers) Department / Finance Department.
(By Order of the Governor)
K.Manivasan
Additional Chief Secretary to Government.
To
The Advocate General of Tamil Nadu, High Court, Chennai-104.
The Advocate-on-Record, Government of Tamil Nadu,
Old Tamil Nadu House, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110 021. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Dept., Chennai-34.
The Registrar General, High Court of Madras, Chennai-104.
The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Chennai-104.
The State Government Pleader, High Court of Madras, Chennai-104. The Government Pleader, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai – 625 023.
The Accountant General, Chennai-18.
The Accountant General (CAS), Chennai-9.
The Pay & Accounts Officer, High Court Complex, Chennai-104.
The Pay & Accounts Officer (North/South/East), Chennai-I/ 35/5.
The Assistant Pay and Accounts Officer, Sub PAO, Madurai-625 023. The Principal Resident Commissioner, Tamil Nadu House, New Delhi.
Copy to:
The Spl. P.A. to Hon’ble Minister for HR&CE, Chennai-9.
The Sr. Principal Private Secretary to Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Tourism,Culture & Religious Endowments Dept., Ch-9.
Home (Courts-IV) Department, Chennai-9.
Public (Law Officers) Department, Chennai-9.
Finance (TC&RE) Department, Chennai-9. Stock file / Spare copies.
// Forwarded by Order //
Krnment