G.Sakthivel v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 03.09.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI and W.M.P.No.37778 of 2025 G.Sakthivel ... Petitioner Vs.
1.
The District Collector, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
2.
The Tahsildhar, 3.
The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Villupuram.
4.
The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Villupuram.
5.
The Fit Person, Arulmighu Ayyanar Thirukoil, Veerangipuram Village, ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 3rd and 4th respondents herein to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's representation dated 25.08.2025 Page No.1 of 6
seeking change of person to the post of 5th respondent herein and to reschedule the annual Bramotsavam of 5th respondent temple in the month of Chithirai instead of 07.09.2025.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.V.Karthikeyan For Respondents : Mrs.S.Anitha, Special Government Pleader [R1] Mr.K.Karthikeyan Government Advocate (HR & CE) [R2 to R5] *****
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking for a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 3 and 4 to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's representation dated 25.08.2025 seeking change of person to the post of 5th respondent herein and to reschedule the annual Bramotsavam of 5th respondent temple in the month of Chithirai instead of 07.09.2025.
2. Mrs.S.Anitha, learned Special Government Pleader accepts notice on behalf of the 1st respondent and Mr.K.Karthikeyan, learned Government Advocate accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 2 to 5. In view of the consent expressed by the learned counsel for the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself. Page No.2 of 6
3. The case of the petitioner is that, Arulmighu Ayyanar Thirukoil, situated in Verangipuram Village was originally administered by a particular family belonging to Udaiyar Community in the said village and lastly, one Narayanasamy Udaiyar was managing the affairs of the temple during his life time and he also obtained an order of Hereditary Trustee in O.A.No.15 of 2015. Thereafter, the said Narayanasamy Udaiyar has passed away in the month of December 2024 and thereby, the legal heirs of the said Narayanasamy Udaiyar have also filed a petition to replace their names as Heriditary Trustee. During the pendency of the said petition, Fit Person was appointed to the 5th respondent Temple in May 2025.
Due to some previous enmity with the deceased Narayanasamy Udaiyar, the 5th respondent by name Balamurugan, by joining hands with person who were opposing the said Late Narayanasamy Udaiyar, decided to conduct annual Bramotsavam of Ayyanar Temple. Thereby, the petitioner and other villagers made representation to the respondents 3 and 4 to replace the said Balamurugan. Pursuant to the same, a Peace Committee Meeting was held on 19.06.2025 and it was agreed that the procedure and date will be discussed with the villagers. However, without doing so, the 5th respondent proceed to conduct the festival by circulating the Bramotsavam invitation, that too, without following the procedure prescribed for conducting the festival. Hence, the petitioner along with other village persons, once again Page No.
made a representation before the respondents on 25.08.2025, seeking change of person to the post of 5th respondent herein and to reschedule the annual Bramotsavam of the 5th respondent temple in the month of Chithirai instead of 07.09.2025. Since the same was not considered, the petitioner has filed the above writ petition before this Court for appropriate orders.
4. Though very many grounds have been raised in this writ petition, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, it would suffice, if this Court issues a direction to the 3rd respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 25.08.2025 and to consequently change the said Balamurugan from the post of The Fit Person, Arulmighu Ayyanar Thirukoil, Veerangipuram Village and to reschedule the annual Bramotsavam of the said temple in the month of Chithirai instead of 07.09.2025, within a stipulated time.
5. Learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents 2 to 5, on instructions, submits that the petitioner's representation dated 25.08.2025 will be considered and appropriate orders will be passed by the 3rd respondent.
6. Considering the limited request sought for by the learned counsel for Page No.4 of 6
the petitioner, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the 3rd respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 25.08.2025 and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
7. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 03.09.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order sp To 1.
The District Collector, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
2.
The Tahsildhar, 3.
The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Villupuram.
4.
The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Villupuram.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
Page No.5 of 6
sp 5.
The Fit Person, Arulmighu Ayyanar Thirukoil, Veerangipuram Village, 03.09.2025 Page No.6 of 6