R.Muthuraaman v. State Of Tamil Nadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 12-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P.No.3854 of 2026 R.Muthuraaman ..Petitioner Vs

1. State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Commissioner, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Thousand Lights West, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034,

3. The Joint Commissioner, Villupuram Region, Villupuram District,

4. The Assistant Commissioner, Villupuram Region, Villupuram District,

5. The Inspector, Tindivanam Taluk, Villupuram District.

..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned communication of the fourth respondent dated 30.09.2025 in Na.Ka.No.68/2025/PC, quash the same as illegal and unsustainable, and consequently direct the respondents to furnish the complete details and statements of the Temple Hundi accounts to the petitioner in his capacity as a hereditary trustee within a time limit fixed by this Court For Petitioner:

Mr.R.Preethikaa For Respondents:

Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarjan Special Government Pleader

ORDER

The writ petition is filed challenging the impugned communication of the fourth respondent dated 30.09.2025 in Na.Ka.No.68/2025/PC, to quash the same as illegal and consequently to direct the respondents to furnish the complete details and statements of the temple Hundi accounts to the petitioner in his capacity as the hereditary trustee, within the time limit fixed by this Court.

2. Upon perusal of the material records and hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner, it is submitted that the petitioner is the hereditary trustee

managing the temple. While so, when the authorities opened the Hundi and collected the amounts, no proper particulars were furnished to the petitioner. The records have so far been maintained by way of a Hundi assortment register, and the particulars were also not entered in the said register. Therefore, when the petitioner made a query under the Right to Information Act, 2005 the impugned order dated 30.09.2025 was passed without furnishing any particulars as to the amount collected or other collections in the temple Hundi.

3. Per contra, the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that the petitioner is only an Archagar and his salary is paid under the Oru Kalla Pooja Scheme and that he is not a hereditary trustee of the said temple. It is further submitted that the petitioner is seeking the Hundi amounts for himself, which cannot be granted.

4. In reply, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the amount was sought only for the purpose of management of the temple.

5. I have considered the rival submissions made on either side and perused the material records of the case.

6. It is disputed by the respondents that the petitioner is not the hereditary trustee. If the petitioner claims himself to be the hereditary trustee, it is open to

him to file an application before the appropriate authority, namely the third respondent - Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Villupuram, under Section 63(b) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959.

As and when such an application is filed, the same shall be considered by the third respondent in the manner known to law. Though the amount need not be handed over to the petitioner, the particulars regarding the amount collected, the account in which it was deposited and whether only money or any other articles were found in the Hundi shall be furnished to the petitioner. The said particulars shall be furnished in writing within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the web copy of this order, without waiting for the certified copy.

7. With the above directions, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected W.M.P.No.3854 of 2026 is ordered. 12-02-2026 NSL

To

1. The Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

2. The Commissioner, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Thousand Lights West, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034, Tamil Nadu.

3. The Joint Commissioner, Villupuram Region, Villupuram District,

4. The Assistant Commissioner, Villupuram Region, Villupuram District,

5. The Inspector, Tindivanam Taluk, Villupuram District.

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

NSL 12-02-2026