M/S.Thanthoni Amman Thirukoil Worshippers Welfare Association v. The Commissioner
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 13.10.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P.No.42987 of 2025 M/s.Thanthoni Amman Thirukoil Worshippers Welfare Association, Rep.by its President, Mr.K.Radhakrishnan, No.26B, Varathapan Street, Olimohamedpet, Kanchipuram-631 501. ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 031.
2.The District Collector, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District.
3.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District.
5.The Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE Department, Kanchipuram.
6.Sri Thanthoni Amman Devasthanam Charitable Trust, Rep.by its Trustees, No.20-C, Varathapan Street, Olimohamedpet, Kanchipuram-631 501.
7.Krishnamoorthy 8.Baskaran 9.P.Gopalrathinam 10.K.Arumugam 11.B.M.K.V.Vigneshwar Sha 12.A.Devendiran 13.C.Natarajan 14.M.Nagarajan ....Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the fifth respondent herein to conduct enquiry on the representation dated 15.07.2023 of the petitioner Association forwarded by the first respondent in his letter No.Rc.No.1313771/2023/E4 dated 24.06.2025, to bring Sri Thanthoni Amman Temple at Oli Mohammedpettai, Varadhappan Street, Kanchipuram
Town, Kanchipuram-631 502, under the control of HR & CE Department within a reasonable time as may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner :
Mr.A.E.Ravichandran For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader (HR & CE) for RR1, R3 and R5 Ms.P.Aishwarya Government Advocate for R2 and R4
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed to direct the fifth respondent herein to conduct enquiry on the representation of the petitioner Association dated 15.07.2023 forwarded by the first respondent in his letter No.Rc.No.1313771/2023/E4 dated 24.06.2025, to bring Sri Thanthoni Amman Temple at Oli Mohammedpettai, Varadhappan Street, Kanchipuram Town, Kanchipuram-631 502, under the control of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department within a time fixed by this Court.
2. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner Association gave a representation to the first respondent to take action against the sixth respondent Trust for having sold the temple properties without conducting
auction on 17.03.2022 and 15.07.2023 to the first respondent for taking necessary action. The first respondent, vide letter dated 24.06.2025, directed the fifth respondent to conduct enquiry and take action in accordance with the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act and the Rules framed thereunder, however, no action was taken by the fifth respondent. Hence, this Writ Petition has been filed.
3. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent Nos.1, 3 and 5 submits that the first respondent has already directed the fifth respondent to conduct enquiry and take action on the basis of the representation made by the petitioner Association, and the fifth respondent will take appropriate action after providing opportunity to the petitioner and other concerned parties.
4. Considering the submission made by the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent Nos.1, 3 and 5, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the fifth respondent to conduct enquiry between the petitioner and the other concerned parties on
the basis of the representation made by the petitioner dated 15.07.2023 and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
5. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 13.10.2025 NCC: Yes / No Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes / No ssb To 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 031.
2.The District Collector, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District.
3.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District.
5.The Assistant Commissioner, HR & CE Department, Kanchipuram.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
ssb 13.10.2025