Rajalakshmi Aayal v. The Commissioner
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 23.03.2026 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI Rajalakshmi Aayal .. Petitioner
Versus
1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Thousand Lights West, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
2. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, Riverside Street, Cuddalore - 607 001.
3. The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, Ariyalur - 621 704.
4. The Inspector, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, Ariyalur, Ariyalur Taluk, Ariyalur District.
5. K.R.Durai, Hereditary Trustee, Arulmigu Oppillatha Amman Temple, Ariyalur Town, Ariyalur District.
.. Respondents 1/7
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent to dispose the application filed by the petitioner received by the 2nd respondent on 02.06.2025 within a stipulated time fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.K.Balu For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravichandran, Additional Government Pleader, for RR-1 to 4 : Mr.D.Baskar, for R5
ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed for a direction to the second respondent to dispose the application filed by the petitioner received by the second respondent on 02.06.2025 within a stipulated time fixed by this Court.
2. The brief facts of the petition are that the petitioner, Rajalakshmi Aayal, daughter and legal heir of the erstwhile Hereditary Trustee of Arulmigu Oppillatha Amman Temple, Ariyalur, submits that the temple, a 100-year-old public temple, traditionally administered by hereditary trustees was earlier managed by her father pursuant to his 2/7
appointment by an order, dated 02.07.1976 in O.A.No.23 of 1976 and though she is entitled to succeed him, she consented to the appointment of the fifth respondent (her cousin) as Hereditary Trustee under Section 54(1) of the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Act by proceedings, dated 18.10.2007 based on his assurances. However, the fifth respondent has since indulged in gross mismanagement and maladministration by failing to conduct consecration and festivals for over 17 years, preventing the petitioner's family from performing customary worship, misappropriating and improperly handling temple funds including compensation of Rs.7.39 crores received for land acquisition, interest portions of funds Rs.
48,896/- of the temple, violating departmental circulars by depositing funds in private banks for personal gain, not maintaining proper accounts, vouchers, lease records and delaying hundiyal deposits and acting in collusion with a suspended accountant of Sri Gothandarama Swamy Thirukoil, Ariyalur, which is further substantiated by an official report of the third respondent dated 04.07.2025 pointing out serious financial irregularities and administrative lapses.
occupation without records and despite the petitioner's representation dated 14.03.2025 and earlier proceedings in W.P.No.14140 of 2025 wherein this Court directed communication of enquiry results and advised recourse under the Act. The authorities have neither furnished the enquiry outcome nor disposed of the petitioner's application for appointment as Hereditary Trustee filed under Section 54 of the Act on 02.06.2025 and have kept the matter pending without justification even in the absence of any interim order in the connected writ proceeding initiated by the fifth respondent in W.P.No.23761 of 2025. Hence, the present Writ Petition.
3. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that this Court may direct the second respondent to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's application within the stipulated time as fixed by this Court.
4. Learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent Nos.1 to 4 submitted that the application will be considered and orders will be passed within the stipulated time as fixed by this Court.
5. Heard the learned Counsel for both side and perused the materials available on record.
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6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and in view of the limited request sought for by the petitioner, this Court directs the second respondent to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's application, which was received by the second respondent on 02.06.2025 within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order after providing opportunity to all the parties.
7. With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
23.03.2026 Index : yes/no Speaking order/Non-speaking order : yes/no grs To
1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Thousand Lights West, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
5/7
2. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, Riverside Street, Cuddalore - 607 001.
3. The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, Ariyalur - 621 704.
4. The Inspector, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, Ariyalur, Ariyalur Taluk, Ariyalur District.
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M.DHANDAPANI, J.
grs 23.03.2026 7/7