R.S.Rajendran v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 13.11.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN R.S.Rajendran : Petitioner versus 1.The District Collector, O/o. District collector, Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District.
2.The Joint Commissioner, HR&CE (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment), Office of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District.
3.The Executive Officer, Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam, / Nagapattinam District.
4.The Tahsildar, O/o. Tahsildar, Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam District.
5.The Commissioner, Vedaranyam Municipality, Vedaranyam. Nagapattinam District.
6.The District Manager, Tasmac Industrialist, Thirupuvanam, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District 7.The Managing Director, Tasmac C.M.S.A, TOWER 11, 4th Floor, Gandhi Iravin Road, Egmore, Chennai.
8.The Senior Zonal Manager, O/o. Old District Collector, First Floor, R.D.O. Complex, Trichy.
: Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct all respondents to take appropriate action to remove the TASMAC shop No.5633 and TASMAC bar running at Survey No.175/283, Mela Theru, Vedaranyam Town, Nagapattinam District from the temple property and the respondents to ensure protection of public welfare, particularly that of students and school staff, and to maintain peace and order in the commercial and residential areas of Mela Theru, Vedaranyam based on petitioner's representation dated 27.09.2025.
For Petitioners :
Mr.Shanmugasundaram, for Mr.R.Muruga Bharathi For Respondents :
Mr.A.Edwin Prabhakar, State Government Pleader assisted by Mr.M.Habeeb Rahman, Government Advocate for respondents 1, 4 and 5 Mr.K.Sathish Kumar, Standing Counsel, for respondents 6 to 8 No appearance for respondents 2 and 3
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Challenge to the location of the TASMAC shop is based mainly on the ground that the liquor shop is situated on the land belonging to the temple and the same is causing inconvenience to the public, school going students, parents etc.
2. On petitioner's own showing, it is revealed that taking cognizance of the complaint, inquiry has been initiated and summons have also been issued by the competent authority where the matter is pending.
3. Therefore, it cannot be said that the authorities are sitting over the complaint and not taking any action. Inquiry is expected to take some reasonable time to conclude. Taking into consideration that notice was issued on 02.09.2025 and the parties affected were noticed also, we are not inclined to keep this petition pending. The petition is disposed of with a direction that inquiry shall be brought to its logical
conclusion one way or the other within a period of eight weeks, as stated by learned Standing Counsel for TASMAC. There will be no order as to costs.
(MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.) 13.11.2025 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No tar
To 1.The District Collector, Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District.
2.The Joint Commissioner, HR&CE (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment), Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District.
3.The Executive Officer, Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam, / Nagapattinam District.
4.The Tahsildar, Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam District.
5.The Commissioner, Vedaranyam Municipality, Vedaranyam. Nagapattinam District.
6.The District Manager, Tasmac Industrialist, Thirupuvanam, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District 7.The Managing Director, Tasmac C.M.S.A, TOWER 11, 4th Floor, Gandhi Iravin Road, Egmore, Chennai.
8.The Senior Zonal Manager, O/o. Old District Collector, First Floor, R.D.O. Complex, Trichy.
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN , J.
(tar) 13.11.2025