V.Boopalan v. Additional Secretary
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 26.08.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH W.P.No.32476 of 2025 Mr.V.Bhoopalan .. Petitioner Vs.
1.Additional Secretary Tamil Nadu Government Tourism and Culture and Religious Endowment Board Secretariat, Chennai 600 005.
2.The District Collector Collectorate Office, Manjakuppam Cuddalore-607 001.
3.Revenue Divisional Officer Collectorate Office Cuddalore-607001.
4.The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Endowment Department 119, Uttamar Gandhi Road Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034.
5.Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE, 1/6
6.The Executive Officer, HR & CE 7.The Tahsildar Panruti Taluk Cuddalore 604 204.
8.The Inspector E-2 Puthupet Police Station Panruti-607108.
9.The Village Administrative Officer Karumbur Vilage Cuddalore-607108.
10.Muralidharan 11.Ramakrishnan 12.Selvaraj 13.Ambedkar 14.Ayyannar 15.Muthukumar .. Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 1 to 9 respondents to consider and dispose of my representation dated 08.08.2025 to ensure equal and unhindered access to the "Sri Balamurugan temple' for all the villagers of Karumbur Panchayat, Panruti Taluk, Cuddalore District on 28.08.2025 Kumbhabhishekam festive and to formulate the new temple committee consisting of Karumbur villager. 2/6
For Petitioner : Mrs.K.Indumathy Venkatesh For Respondents : Mr.K.Karthikeyan Government Advocate for R1, R4, R5, R6 Mr.P.Ganesan Additional Government Pleader for R2, R3, R7, R9 Mr.V.Meganathan Government Advocate (Crl.side) for R8
O R D E R
1.The 5th and 6th respondents in this writ petition shall be reframed as follows: 5.Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE, Panruti Taluk, Cuddalore District. 6.The Executive Officer, HR & CE, Panruti Taluk, Cuddalore District. 2.This writ petition has been filed for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to deal with the representation made by the petitioner wherein the petitioner is seeking for access to the temple for all the villagers belonging to Karumbur Panchayat, Panruti Taluk, Cuddalore District. 3/6
3.The learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the official respondent on instructions submitted that Sri Balamurugan Temple is not under the direct administration of the HR & CE Department. However, at the time of renovation, the Department had given a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- to meet the expenses. The learned Government Advocate submitted that the temple in question is a public temple and therefore everyone must be allowed to access the temple. 4.The grievance expressed by the petitioner is that respondents 10 to 15 are preventing the petitioner and others from having access to the temple and offering their prayers to god.
5.In the considered view of this Court, the temple in question is a public temple. Therefore, everyone must have access to the temple irrespective of their community and everyone must be permitted to offer their prayers to god. This shall be ensured by the respondents 5 to 8. The 8th respondent shall also ensure that no law and order problem is created and if any such problem is created, action shall be taken in accordance with law.
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This writ petition is disposed of the above terms. No costs. 26.08.2025 Index : Yes/No kp To 1.Additional Secretary Tamil Nadu Government Tourism and Culture and Religious Endowment Board Secretariat, Chennai 600 005.
2.The District Collector Collectorate Office, Manjakuppam Cuddalore-607 001.
3.Revenue Divisional Officer Collectorate Office Cuddalore-607001.
4.The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Endowment Department 119, Uttamar Gandhi Road Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034.
5.Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE, 6.The Executive Officer, HR & CE 5/6
N. ANAND VENKATESH., J kp 7.The Tahsildar Panruti Taluk Cuddalore 604 204.
8.The Inspector E-2 Puthupet Police Station Panruti-607108.
9.The Village Administrative Officer Karumbur Vilage Cuddalore-607108.
W.P.No.32476 of 2025 26.8.2025 6/6