Temple case JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY AND THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE T.V.THAMILSELVI W.P.No.19518 of 2025 K. Sivaprakasam

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED:   28.05.2025

CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY

AND

THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE T.V.THAMILSELVI

W.P.No.19518 of 2025

K. Sivaprakasam

Petitioner

Vs

1      The State of Tamil Nadu

     Rep. by its Secretary,

     Department of Tourism, Culture      and Religious Endowment,       Secretariat, Chennai  600 009.

2      The Commissioner,

     Hindu Religious Charitable Endowment       Department,      Chennai 600034.

3      The Regional Joint Commissioner,      Office of the Joint Commissioner

     HR & CE Department, Erode 638 011.

4      The Fit Person / the Chairman

     Board of Trustees

     Arulmigu Aruthra Kabaleeswarar Vagaiyara Temples      Erode  638 001.

5      The Executive Officer

     Arulmigu Aruthra Kabaleeswarar Vagaiyara Temples,      Erode 638 001.

6      The Deputy  Comptroller and

     Auditor General of India,

     Pocket-9, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marge,      New Delhi 110 124.

7    The District Collector,

      Office Of The Collector,

      Erode  638 011.

… Respondents

For Petitioner

: Mr.K.Ravi Anandha Padmanabhan Senior Council for Mr.Vadiraj Anirudh S.G.

For Respondents

: Mr.Arun Natarajan,

Spl.Government Pleader

(HR &CE) for R1 to R5

Mr.P.Balathandhayuham, Spl. Government Pleader for R7

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, J.)

The petitioner seeks a forensic audit by respondent No.6 of the affairs of Arulmighu Aruthra Kabaleeswarar Vagaiyara Temples, Erode.

2.          Mr.Arun Natarajan, learned Special Government Pleader (HR & CE), accepts notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 5. Mr.P.Balathandhayutham, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of respondent No.7.

3.          Mr.Arun Natarajan submits that the HR & CE Department has initiated action against the persons named in paragraph 12 of the affidavit and such persons have also initiated proceedings before this Court.

4.          Since the petitioner has placed on record  prima facie evidence of financial irregularities in the affairs of the temple, the HR & CE Department is directed to file a detailed counter setting out the measures taken in relation thereto.

5.          Issue notice to respondent No.6, returnable on

18.06.2025.  Private notice is also permitted.

Post on 18.06.2025.

(S.K.R., J.)               (T.V.T.S., J.)                                                                     28.05.2025         bbr/vum

To

     The Secretary,

     Department of Tourism, Culture      and Religious Endowment,       Secretariat, Chennai  600 009.

2        The Commissioner,

     Hindu Religious Charitable Endowment       Department, Chennai 600034.

3        The Regional Joint Commissioner,      Office of the Joint Commissioner      HR & CE Department, Erode 638 011.

4        The Fit Person / the Chairman

     Board of Trustees

     Arulmigu Aruthra Kabaleeswarar Vagaiyara Temples      Erode  638 001.

5        The Executive Officer

     Arulmigu Aruthra Kabaleeswarar Vagaiyara      Temples, Erode 638 001.

6        The Deputy  Comptroller and

     Auditor General of India,

     Pocket-9, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marge,      New Delhi 110 124.

7        The District Collector,      Office Of The Collector,       Erode  638 011.

  SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY  ,J. and

  T.V.THAMILSELVI,  J.

bbr/vum

W.P.No.19518 of 2025

28.05.2025