Madras High CourtWP/13103/2020disposed of

Rangarajan Narasimhan v. The Chief Secretary To Govt

2024-02-21Honourable Mr Justice R. Mahadevan,Honourable Mr Justice P.D.Audikesavalu8 pages

0IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 21.02.2024

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE R.MAHADEVAN AND THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU Rangarajan Narasimhan Sanathana Dharmam/Sri Vaishnavam "Arangan Thirumutram"

Kollidam Road 400 m West of Andavan Ashramam Srirangam, Trichy - 620006.

... Petitioner -vs1. The Chief Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

2. The Home Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

3. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. By its Secretary Department of Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai - 600 009.

4. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep by its Secretary Department of Law Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai - 600009.

1/8

5. The Director General of Police Tamil Nadu Police Department Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai Mylapore, Chennai - 600004.

6. Inspector of Police Samayapuram Police Station Samayapuram, Trichy.

7. The Deputy Superintendent of Police Tamil Nadu Police Department Trichy.

8. The Superintendent of Police Tamil Nadu Police Department Trichy.

9. The Inspector of Police Srirangam Police Station Srirangam, Trichy.

10. The Commissioner of Police Tamil Nadu Police Department Trichy City.

11. The Inspector of Police Thittacheri Police Station Nagapattinam.

12. The Deputy Superintendent of Police Tamil Nadu Police Department Nagapattinam.

13. The Superintendent of Police Tamil Nadu Police Department Nagapattinam.

2/8

14. The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI Head Officer Plot No. 5-B, CGO Complex Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003.

15. The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600034.

... Respondents Prayer:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, praying for a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Fifteenth Respondent to conduct the audit for all temples under the supervisory control of the HR & CE Department, within a reasonable time frame and enact necessary rules to ensure the governing of timely audits with personal provisions to punish erring officials who do not adhere to the filing the audit reports as required by the HR & CE Act.

For Petitioner :

Mr. Rangarajan Narasimhan (P-in-P) For Respondents :

Mr. N.R.R.Arun Natarajan (RR1 to 3) Special Government Pleader Mr. Baladhandayutham (RR 4 to 15) Special Government Pleader ...

3/8

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by R.MAHADEVAN, J.) Heard Mr. Rangarajan Narasimhan, Party-in-Person and Mr. N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, Learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the First to Third Respondents and Mr. Baladhandayutham, Learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the Fourth to Fifteenth Respondents and also perused the materials placed on record, apart from the pleadings of the parties. 2.

The petitioner has come up with this writ petition seeking a direction to the 15th respondent viz., Commissioner, HR&CE Department, Chennai, to conduct audit for all the temples under the supervisory control of the HR&CE Department within a time frame and frame necessary rules to ensure the timely audits with penal provisions to punish the erring officials, who do not file the audit reports as required under the HR&CE Act. 3.

The prayer made in this writ petition has already been meted out by this court in its earlier order dated 07.06.2021 passed in suo motu WP. No. 574 of 2015 and the said suo motu writ petition was directed to be posted "for reporting compliance". Therefore, it is open to the petitioner to raise his 4/8

objections, if any, when the said suo motu writ petition is taken up "for reporting compliance".

Accordingly, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. (R.M.D., J.) (P.D.A., J.) 21.02.2024 Index: Yes / No Speaking order/ Non-speaking order Maya To

1. The Chief Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

2. The Home Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

3. The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu Department of Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai - 600 009.

4. The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu Department of Law Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai - 600009.

5/8