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Madras High CourtWP/35571/2025closed

Rajeshwari v. The Commissioner

2025-09-22Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 22-09-2025

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI RAJESHWARI W/o.Janarthanan, Trustee, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Kovil, Thoravi Village Vikravandi Taluk, Villupuram-605 652 ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Commissioner Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034.

2. The Joint Commissioner HR & CE Department, Villupuram.

3. The Assistant Commissioner HR & CE Department, Villupuram.

4. The Inspector of HR & CE Vikravandi Taluk, Villupuram.

5. The Superintendent of Police No.29, 1st Street, Master Plan Complex, Near Collectorate Office, Collector Office Road, Moovendar Nagar, Villupuram-605 602.

..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to direct the 1st respondent to consider petitioner representation dated 13.8.2025

further enforce petitioner appointment order dated 6.3.2024 vide order in 2588/2024 and consequently direct the 5th respondent to provide necessary police protection to enable petitioner to peacefully discharge petitioner duties. For Petitioner:

M/s.Nathan And Assocaites For Respondent(s):

Mr.S.Ravichandran, Additional Government Pleader (HR&CE), for R1 to R4 Mr.S.Balaji, Government Advocate (Crl.side) for R5

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking for a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the fourth respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 13.08.2025 and to further enforce the petitioner's appointment order dated 06.03.2024 vide proceedings No.2588/2024 and consequently direct the fifth respondent to provide necessary police protection to enable the petitioner to peacefully discharge her duties. 2.Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 4. Mr.S.Balaji, learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) accepts notice on behalf of the fifth respondent. In view of the consent expressed by the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

3.The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner was appointed as a Trustee by an order dated 06.03.2024 based on the Resolution No.150. Despite her valid appointment, the petitioner was not informed that the temple keys remained with the previous administrator. Thereafter, she came to know through a response to her RTI application that one Murugan had also applied for trusteeship using forged documents and that complaints were filed against the petitioner by the said Murugan and others. Despite being cleared of all the charges, the petitioner was not handed over the charge or possession of the temple. Therefore, the petitioner has made a representation dated 13.08.2025 to the first respondent. As the same has not been considered, she is before this Court.

4.Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that though the petitioner has been cleared from all the charges levelled against her, she was not handed over the charge or possession of the temple since the keys of the temple were retained by the previous administrator. Therefore, the learned counsel for the petitioner prays for appropriate orders.

5.Learned Government Advocate appearing for the fifth respondent would submit that after conducting a fair enquiry, the keys of the temple were handed over to the petitioner from the previous administrator. 6.In view of the subsequent development and the charges levelled against the petitioner were also cleared and the said factum was also not disputed by the respondents, this writ petition is closed by directing the respondents to hand over the keys of the temple, which are in possession of the previous administrator, to the petitioner forthwith. No costs. 22-09-2025 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VGA

To

1. The Commissioner Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034.

2. The Joint Commissioner HR & CE Department, Villupuram.

3. The Assistant Commissioner HR & CE Department, Villupuram.

4. The Inspector of HR & CE Vikravandi Taluk, Villupuram.

5. The Superintendent Of Police No.29, 1st Street, Master Plan Complex, Near Collectorate Office, Collector Office Road, Moovendar Nagar, Villupuram-605 602.

M.DHANDAPANI J.

VGA W.P. No.35571 of 2025 22-09-2025