Sri Thathadesikathiruvamsathar Sabha, v. The Commissioner,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 26-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI WP No. 12217 of 2026 & W.M.P.Nos.13337 and 13338 of 2026
1. Sri ThathadesikaThiruvamsathar Sabha, Represented by its President, No. 8-B, Sannithi Street, Little Kanchipuram, Kancheepuram - 631 501
2. T.K.Sampath Kumaran, No. 6/22, Srirangaraja street, Chinna Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram 631 501 ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, 112, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
2. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, 11/20, A.K.Thangavelar street, Kanchipuram - 631 501.
3. The Executive Trustee, Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram - 631 501.
4. Rajalakshmi Executive Trustee, Sri Devarajaswamy Temple, Kanchipuram 631 501.
..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the Order in Na.Ka.No.23/2026 dated 04.03.2026, passed by the 3rd Respondent herein, to quash the same and consequently direct the
Respondents to accept and adopt the yearly calendar submitted by 1st Petitioner Sabha on 28.02.2026 for the upcoming Tamil Year of Paraabhava (2026-2027), as the yearly calendar of Sri Devarajaswamy Temple, Kanchipuram For Petitioner(s):
Mr.Niranjan Rajagopalan for M/s.G.R.Associates For Respondent(s):
Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan for R1 and R2 Special Government Pleader Mr.R.Bharanidharan for R3 and R4
ORDER
With consent on both sides, the main Writ Petition itself is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage.
2. This Writ Petition has been filed to call for the records relating to the Order in Na.Ka.No.23/2026 dated 04.03.2026, passed by the 3rd Respondent herein, to quash the same and consequently direct the Respondents to accept and adopt the yearly calendar submitted by 1st Petitioner Sabha on 28.02.2026 for the upcoming Tamil Year of Paraabhava (2026-2027), as the yearly calendar of Sri Devarajaswamy Temple, Kanchipuram.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the 1st petitioner Sabha comprises of members, who are the descendants of the Kotikanniyakadana Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikar called 'Thathachariars' associated with Sri Devarajaswamy Temple. It is customary practice of the temple that the yearly calender and schedule of the temple for
the upcoming Tamil Year is ascertained from the members of the Thathachariars family. The 2nd petitioner is the Secretary of the 1st petitioner and the 3rd respondent requested the 1st petitioner to ascertain the yearly calender of the temple and the dates for the festival to be celebrated in the temple for the year 2026-2027 for the upcoming Tamil New Year 'Paraabhava'. On the basis of the request of the 3rd respondent, the 1st petitioner, prepared yearly calender ascertaining star and planetary position in accordance with the Jyotisha Sastara and Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya. On receipt of the same, merely because the 2nd petitioner signed as a secretary and on the ground that 2nd petitioner already raised litigation as against the official respondents, the same was rejected , however, such an impugned order is not sustainable, challenging the same, the present Writ Petition has been filed.
4. Per contra the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 and the learned counsel for the respondents 3 and 4 would submit that there was an enmity between 2nd petitioner and the respondents 3 and 4 and the respondents 3 and 4 belong to Smartha Brahmin family and 4th respondent is the Assistant Commissioner of HR & CE and the respondents 3 and 4 are the Executive Trustee, as per scheme of Devarajaswamy temple. Further, the intention of the 2nd petitioner is to create problem at festival, thereby the impugned order has been passed. However, the impugned order will be withdrawn and the calender submitted by the 1st
petitioner and the calender already prepared by the temple will be displayed in the temple notice board and if any objection has been raised by the petitioners or by any other persons, the same will be considered and appropriate orders will be passed after consulting the experts.
5. Considering the submissions of the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 and the learned counsel for the respondents 3 and 4, the present Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to display the calender submitted by the petitioners as well as the calender already prepared by the temple in the notice board and liberty is granted to the persons to raise objection, if they have any grievance, further, the respondents are directed to consider the calenders and objections, if any, and pass appropriate orders after consulting the experts as early as possible. Though the Writ Petitioners stand by the allegations made as against the respondents 3 and 4, however, this Court has not expressed any opinion in the present Writ Petition and the allegations made in the Writ Petition as against the respondents 3 and 4 are expunged. Consequently, W.M.P.No.13338 of 2026 is closed and W.M.P.No.13337 of 2026 is ordered on payment of single court fee. No costs. 26-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order ssd
To
1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, 112, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
2. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board 11/20, A.K.Thangavelar street, Kanchipuram - 631 501.
3. The Executive Trustee, Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram - 631 501.
4. Rajalakshmi Executive Trustee, Sri Devarajaswamy Temple, Kanchipuram 631 501.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
ssd 26-03-2026