Thiruvannamalai temple order. HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.B.BALAJI W.P. No.44523 of 2025 and WMP. Nos.49687 & 49688 of 2025 Elephant G. Rajendiran Petitioner Vs 1.The Secretary, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Reserved on:27.10.2025 Pronounced on:28.11.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.B.BALAJI
W.P. No.44523 of 2025 and WMP. Nos.49687 & 49688 of 2025
Elephant G. Rajendiran
Petitioner
Vs
1.The Secretary,
Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.
2.The Secretary,
Municipal Administration, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.
3.The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, No.19, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034.
4.The Director General of Police, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004.
5.The District Collector, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
6.The Executive Officer/Joint Commissioner, A/M.Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
7.The Municipal Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
8.The Superintending Engineer, Public Work Department, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
9.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
10.The Joint Director of Medical Service, Tiruvannamalai -Dt.
11.The Regional Transport Officer, Tiruvannamalai District.
12.The Superintending Engineer, TANGEDCO, Vengikal, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
13.The District Surveyor, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
14.The Superintendent of Police, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
Respondents
PRAYER: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to implement the guide lines,
(i) Deployment of adequate police personnel for crowd control and protection;
(ii) Barricading and one-way movement systems around temple corridors and Girivalam paths;
(iii) Regulation of vehicular traffic with designated parking zones;
(iv) Setting up temporary health and emergency medical camps;
(v) Provision of fire safety, illumination and sanitation facilities;
(vi) Coordination among departments through a joint control room;
(vii) Establishment of CCTV based monitoring and public announcement systems;
(viii) This fake Samiyars shall not be allowed to enter into the
Girivala pathai;
(ix) The group of persons with audio speaker shall not be allowed in the middle of the Girivala pathai;
(x)The Aravanies (Thirunangai) shall not be allowed in the Girivala pathai;
(xi) All shop vendors on either side platforms or Girivala pathai shall not be allowed;
(xii) In all 10 lingam Temples only trained Archarkars with Joint Commissioner I.D. Card and Aadhar Card only be allowed; and
(xiii) Keeping Van and Lorry calling for oil massage and selling cloths shall not be allowed.
For Petitioner : Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran
Party in Person
For Respondents : Mr.M.Murali,
Government Advocate for R1, 2, 5, 7 to 13.
Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, Special Government Pleader R3 and R6.
Mr.J.Ravindran,
Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.Raj Thilak Additional Government Pleader for R4 & R14
**********
ORDER
The Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner-in-person, Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran, seeking issuance of Writ of Mandamus to issue several directions to the Authorities concerned for the purposes of ensuring safe conduct of Girivalam and other related festivals during Tiruvannamalai Mahadeepam.
2. Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran, submit that every year, the number of devotees thronging the temple has been steadily increasing and it has led to a variety of problems and concerns for the general public, especially the devotees who come not only from other parts of the country, but also from outside India. In his affidavit, Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran, has spelt out several grey which would have to be considered by the respondents on a war footing.
3. When the Writ Petition came up for admission, I directed the respondents to file a status report regarding the various measures taken by them to ensure that there is no untoward incident during the celebration of the Mahadeepam festival at Tiruvannamalai.
4. In compliance with the order, 24.11.2025, the Inspector General of Police, North Zone, Chennai-16 has filed a status report dated 24.11.2025. The Writ Petition was adjourned for today, for enabling the other respondents to file their status report. Today, Mr.J.Ravindran, learned Additional Advocate General has appeared on behalf of the respondents 4 & 14 and has also filed a status report of the District Collector, Thiruvannamalai, after serving an advance copy to Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran.
5. Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran, would submit that he is satisfied with the various measures that are being implemented by the respondents to ensure that the festivities are conducted without causing any undue hardship to the devotees and the general public. However, he has certain reservations viz., (i) fake Sadhus and persons belonging to Aravani (Thirunangai) Community who harass innocent devotees and go to the extent of even threatening them to part with huge sums of money. His specific complaint is that these persons are standing at specific locations and harass the devotees who undertake the Girivalam.
6. With regard to this specific grievance of Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran, learned Additional Advocate General pointing out to the status report of the District Collector/5th respondent, invited my attention to paragraph 11 of the status report and state that specific Committees have been formed to monitor such intrusion and excesses of certain members of the society who spread themselves all over the Girivalam path and forced the devotees from parting with the money. He would therefore state that the said grievance of the petitioner is being seriously addressed and the petitioner need not have any apprehensions.
7. The other concern of Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran, is that the Archakars are also demanding ransom money from the devotees especially at Kubera Lingam and the respondent should device a methodology where such atrocities are not permitted. Mr.J.Ravindran, learned Additional Advocate General would submit that all Archakars are being issued with Identity Cards and therefore, this grievance of the petitioner is adequately taken care of.
8. The next concern raised by Mr.Elephant G.Rajendiran, is that certain mobile vans are stationed on the sides/platforms of the Grivalam and services like massage are being offered. He would state that such activities should not be permitted, especially since they have absolutely no relation to the religious fervor with which, the Girivalam is undertaken by the devotees. Mr.J.Ravindran, learned Additional Advocate General would state that this issue will also be addressed and suitable instructions would be issued to the police officials who have been deputed for the purposes of maintaining law and order on all relevant dates.
9. In the light of the above, the status report filed by the Inspector
General of Police dated 24.11.2025 and the status report of the District Collector dated 27.11.2025 are recorded. This Court is confident that the various measures set out in the said status reports would not remain just on paper, but would be implemented in true letter and spirit.
10. Recording the said status reports, the Writ Petition is disposed of. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are also closed. No costs.
28.11.2025
rkp
Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No To:
1.The Secretary,
Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.
2.The Secretary,
Municipal Administration, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.
3.The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, No.19, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034.
4.The Director General of Police,
Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004.
5.The District Collector, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
6.The Executive Officer/Joint Commissioner, A/M.Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
7.The Municipal Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
8.The Superintending Engineer, Public Work Department, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
9.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
10.The Joint Director of Medical Service, Tiruvannamalai -Dt.
11.The Regional Transport Officer, Tiruvannamalai District.
12.The Superintending Engineer, TANGEDCO, Vengikal, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
13.The District Surveyor, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
14.The Superintendent of Police, Tiruvannamalai-Dt.
P.B.BALAJI, J.,
rkp
Pre-delivery order in
W.P. No.44523 of 2025 and WMP. Nos.49687 & 49688 of 2025
28.11.2025