Arulmighu Mutheeswarar Thirukoil v. The Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 21.04.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.Nos.16912 and 16913 of 2026 Arulmighu Mutheeswarar Thirukoil Vannargal Samuthaya Sangam, Reg.No.138/2013 represented by its Treasurer Chandrasekaran S/o.Kuppan at No.10, Bavapettai Street, Kanchipuram District.
... Petitioner Vs.
1 The Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment Department, Secretariate, Chennai - 600 009.
2 The Commissioner HR & CE Department No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
3 The Joint Commissioner HR & CE Department, No.11/20 A.K.Thangavelar Street, Chinna Kancheepuram - 631 501.
4 The Assistant Commissioner, HR and C.E.Department, Collector Office Campus, Kancheepuram - 631 501.
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5 The Executive Officer, A/m.Mutheeswarar Thirukoil, Kanchipuram Town, Kanchipuram District.
6 C.Saravanakumar 7 P.Dhasarathan 8 G.Balachander 9 A.Kadamban 10 E.Ekambaram ... Respondents Prayer:
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order dated 06.03.2026 in G.O.(Pa)No.105 of first respondent, pursuant to the impugned order of the second respondent dated 20.02.2026 in Se.Mu.Na.Ka.No.2455840/2026/Aa1, quash the same as arbitrary and illegal and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 3 to appoint the Non Hereditary Trustee from the members of the petitioner's community namely Vannar community for Arulmigu Mutheeswarar Thirukoil at Kancheipuram as per the scheme framed by order dated 19.11.1929 made in O.A.No.530 of 1929 by the Board of Commissioners of the Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Prabakar For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravichandran for R1 to R4 Additional Government Pleader(HR&CE) 2/7
O R D E R
The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the order dated 06.03.2026 in G.O.(Pa)No.105 of first respondent, pursuant to the order of the second respondent dated 20.02.2026 in Se.Mu.Na.Ka.No.2455840/2026/Aa1, quash the same as arbitrary and illegal and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 3 to appoint the Non Hereditary Trustee from the members of the petitioner's community namely Vannar community for Arulmigu Mutheeswarar Thirukoil at Kancheipuram as per the scheme framed by order dated 19.11.1929 made in O.A.No.530 of 1929 by the Board of Commissioners of the Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras. 2.
The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner Sangam is a registered society consisting of people belonging to Washermen community at Kanchipuram. As per the Scheme order dated 19.11.1929 in O.A.No.530/1929, Arulmigu Mutheeswarar Thirukkoil, Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram, should be administered and managed by representatives chosen by the Washermen community of Kanchipuram.
were earlier members of the petitioner Sangam and subsequently, they started new Sangam and vide impugned order, the private respondents were appointed as Non Hereditary Trustees. The entire Washermen community stood in the name of petitioner Sangam and hence appointing Non Hereditary Trustee from other Sangam is not sustainable one and contrary to Scheme order dated 19.11.1929 in O.A.No.530/1929.
3.The learned Additional Government Pleader (HR&CE) submitted that disqualification will arise only if the Non Hereditary Trustees are appointed from other community. In the present case, the private respondents belong to Washermen community. It is purely dispute between two Sangams and it has to be adjudicated only before the competent civil Court.
4.Heard the arguments advanced on either side and perused the materials available on record.
5.The petitioner Sangam is a registered society consisting of people belonging to Washermen community at Kanchipuram. As per the Scheme order dated 19.11.1929 in O.A.No.530/1929, Arulmigu 4/7
Mutheeswarar Thirukkoil, Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram, should be administered and managed by representatives chosen by the Washermen community of Kanchipuram. The grievance of the petitioner is that the private respondents who belong to another Sangam were appointed as Non Hereditary Trustees. 6.As rightly contended by the learned Additional Government Pleader (HR&CE), disqualification will arise only if the Non Hereditary Trustees are appointed from other community. In the present case, the private respondents belong to Washermen community. It is purely dispute between two Sangams and it has to be adjudicated only before the competent civil Court.
7.The writ petition is dismissed. However, liberty is granted to the petitioner to approach the competent civil Court for appropriate remedy.
No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
21.04.2026 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No 5/7
To 1 The Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment Department, Secretariate, Chennai - 600 009.
2 The Commissioner HR & CE Department No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
3 The Joint Commissioner HR & CE Department, No.11/20 A.K.Thangavelar Street, Chinna Kancheepuram - 631 501.
4 The Assistant Commissioner, HR and C.E.Department, Collector Office Campus, Kancheepuram - 631 501.
5 The Executive Officer, A/m.Mutheeswarar Thirukoil, Kanchipuram Town, Kanchipuram District.
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M.DHANDAPANI,J.
pri And W.M.P.Nos.16912 and 16913 of 2026 21.04.2026 7/7