Temple order THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN WP No.12656 of 2026  and  WMP N   os .13818, 13817  and  13815   of 2026 P.Bhaskar,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED:   08.04.2026

CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,

CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN

WP No.12656 of 2026

 and  WMP N   os .13818, 13817  and  13815   of 2026

P.Bhaskar,

S/o.Parthasarathy

No.18, Bramin Street,

Nanthivaram, Guduvancheri, Vandallur Taluk,

Chengalpattu District.

Petitioner(s)

Vs

1.  The Additional Secretary to Government

    Department of Tourism, Culture and     Religious  Endowments, Secretariat,     Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

2.  The Commissioner

    Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment     Department, Uthamar Gandhi Salai,     Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034.

3.  The Joint Commissioner

    Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment

    Department, Commercial Tax Building,

    Ground Floor, Near RTO Office,

    Dr.Balasundaram Salai, Coimbatore Central,     Coimbatore – 641 018.

4.  The Assistant Commissioner/ Executive Officer

    Arulmighu Masani Amman Temple,

    Near Bus Stand, Masaniamman Kovil Street,     Anaimalai, Pollachi, Coimbatore District-624 104.

5.  Rajkumar

    S/o.Krishnaswamy,

    Thakkar, Arulmighu Masaniamman Kovil Street,

    Anaimalai,Pollachi,Coimbatore District-624 104.

Respondent(s)

 PRAYER   : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records made in the impugned order issued by the 1st respondent vide G.O.(D) No.15 dated 14.01.2026 and quash the same as illegal, void and unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents herein not to break or operate the Fixed Deposit of the temple.

                            For Petitioner(s): Mr.B.Jagannath

For Respondent(s):Mr. R.Shanmugasundaram

Senior Advocate

Assisted by Mr. N.R.R.Arun Natarajan

Special Government Pleader (HR  and CE) and Ms.Shakeenaa.A.G.

for R1 to R4

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made  by the Hon’ble Chief Justice)

Seeking quashment of the government order in G.O.(D) No.15, dated 14.1.2026, issued by the first respondent appointing the fifth respondent as Thakkar/Fit Person and a consequential direction to enjoin the respondents from operating the fixed deposit of the temple, the present writ petition is filed in public interest.

2.          Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the appointment of Fit Person/Thakkar can only be a stopgap arrangement, whereas the delay in appointment of trustees and continuation of the Fit Person is against the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.   It is further submitted that Fit Person/Thakkar cannot be permitted to take any major policy decision and he cannot be permitted to utilize the temple funds, more particularly the fixed deposit amount, without the resolution of the trust board.

3.          Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.1 to 4 submitted that notification for filling up the posts of trustees has already been issued and the applications received are being scrutinized and immediately after the ensuing elections, the trustees shall be appointed.

4.          Upon hearing learned counsel for the parties, it is apparent that a notification inviting applications for the posts of trustees has already been issued and the applications received are being scrutinized.  It is further submitted that immediately after the ensuing elections, the regular trustees shall be appointed.

5.          The apprehension of the petitioner is that the fifth respondent/Thakkar may utilize the surplus funds of the temple, including the fixed deposit of around Rs.100 crores, and even alienate the temple properties.  Such apprehension, without any material to substantiate the same, cannot be entertained.  If there is any violation, the petitioner can draw the attention of the authorities to the same.

6.          We dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the respondent authorities to expedite the process of appointment of regular trustees.  We make it clear that the respondent authorities shall ensure that the provisions of the Act are strictly adhered to before taking any decision with regard to utilization of the temple funds.

There shall be no order as to costs.  Consequently, interim applications stand closed.

(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,CJ)      (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)

                                 08.04.2026

Index                     :             Yes/No

Neutral Citation :            Yes/No

sasi

To:

1.  The Additional Secretary to Government

    Department of Tourism, Culture and     Religious  Endowments, Secretariat,     Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

2.  The Commissioner

    Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment     Department, Uthamar Gandhi Salai,     Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034.

3.  The Joint Commissioner

    Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment

    Department, Commercial Tax Building,

    Ground Floor, Near RTO Office,     Dr.Balasundaram Salai, Coimbatore Central,     Coimbatore – 641 018.

4.  The Assistant Commissioner/ Executive Officer

    Arulmighu Masani Amman Temple,

    Near Bus Stand, Masaniamman Kovil Street,

    Anaimalai, Pollachi, Coimbatore District-624 104.

THE HON’BLE CHIEF JUSTICE

    AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.

(sasi)

WP No.12656 of 2026

    

08.04.2026