P.N.Rajkumar v. The Commissioner
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 26.12.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN W.P.No.50414 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.56426, 56427 & 56428 of 2025 P.N.Rajkumar ... Petitioner -vs1.The Commissioner, H.R & C.E. Department, No.119, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034.
2.The Joint Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Department, Kancheepuram District, Kancheepuram.
3.The Assistant Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Department, 4th Floor, District Collectorate Building, Chengalpattu, Chengalpattu District - 603 001. 4.The Chairman, District Level Committee, H.R. & C.E. Department, 4th Floor, District Collectorate Building, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu.
5.The Inspector, H.R. & C.E. Department, 4th Floor, District Collectorate Building, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu.
... Respondents 1/9
Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, pleased to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, call for the records of the 3rd respondent dated 01.12.2025 in his Notice No.2165-39/2025 and quash the same and direct the 3rd respondent to appoint the petitioner as a non-hereditary trustee to the Arulmigu Muthalamman Temple (TM003097) in Poonjeri Village, Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu District based on District Level Committee recommendation dated 11.04.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Angamuthu For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravichandran, Additional Government Pleader ***********
ORDER
This writ petition is filed to call for the records of the 3rd respondent dated 01.12.2025 in his Notice No.2165-39/2025 and quash the same and direct the 3rd respondent to appoint the petitioner as a non-hereditary trustee to the Arulmigu Muthalamman Temple (TM003097) in Poonjeri Village, Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu District, based on the District Level Committee recommendation dated 11.04.2025.
2. Heard Mr.S.Angamuthu, learned counsel for the petitioner and 2/9
Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
3. The petitioner is a practising Advocate. He belongs to the scheduled caste community. He is desirous of being appointed as a non hereditary Trustee for the Arulmigu Muthalamman Temple, Poonjeri Village, Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu District. The petitioner had applied for the said post pursuant to a notification issued by the HR & CE Department. He was called upon to produce a certificate from the Police Department, stating that there are no cases pending against him. He approached the Inspector of Police and obtained the certificate. Despite the fact that his application was complete in all respects, the Department had not proceeded further with the process of appointment.
4. The petitioner states that he came to know certain unauthorised persons are collecting funds on behalf of the Temple. Hence, the petitioner approached the Assistant Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, to find out the status of his application.
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5. The Department had allegedly informed him, that no orders were passed on account of the fact that the petitioner belongs to the scheduled caste community. Aggrieved by the same, he approached the Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes by way of representation.
6. He pleads that instead of proceeding further, with the notification issued for appointment, the Department is withdrawing the same, and yet again, it has called for fresh applications by way of the impugned order. Hence the writ petition.
7. When the matter came up for admission, Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader, who had been instructed by the Inspector of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chengalpattu District, states that if the petitioner files a fresh application pursuant to the impugned notification, the same will be processed and appropriate orders will be passed. The said instructions are scanned and extracted hereunder:
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8. Mr.S.Ravichandran also states that the present notification will not be withdrawn and it will be taken to its logical consequence of appointing non-hereditary Trustees for Muthalamman Temple. His statement is recorded. The writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected writ miscellaneous petitions are closed.
9. The petitioner is at liberty to file a fresh application. In case, this notification is withdrawn, the petitioner is at liberty to take all procedures, including filing a petition for contempt of Court as against those responsible for the withdrawal.
26.12.2025 Index : Yes / No rna/msr 7/9
To 1.The Commissioner, H.R & C.E. Department, No.119, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034.
2.The Joint Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Department, Kancheepuram District, Kancheepuram.
3.The Assistant Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Department, 4th Floor, District Collectorate Building, Chengalpattu, Chengalpattu District - 603 001.
4.The Chairman, District Level Committee, H.R. & C.E. Department, 4th Floor, District Collectorate Building, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu.
5.The Inspector, H.R. & C.E. Department, 4th Floor, District Collectorate Building, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu.
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V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN.J, rna/msr W.P.No.50414 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.56426, 56427 & 56428 of 2025 26.12.2025 9/9