P.Sundaramoorthy v. Thirumal
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED :26.12.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL and C.M.P.No. 32814 of 2025 P.Sundaramoorthy ... Appellant/Petitioner Vs.
1.
Thirumal 2.
The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Ranipet District.
3.
The District Revenue Officer, Ranipet, Ranipet District.
4.
The Revenue Divisional Officer, Executive Magistrate, Ranipet, Ranipet District.
5.
The Tahsildar, Walaja Taluk, Ranipet District.
... Respondents Prayer: Writ appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent, against the order dated 11.12.2025 passed in W.P.No.48588 of 2025 on the file of this Court.
For Appellant : Mr.A.Suresh Sakthi Murugan For R1 : Mr.N.Baskaran for Mr.R.Ramesh, For RR 2 to 5 : Mrs.Yamuna Devi Spl. Govt. Pleader * * * * *
JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) This intra-court appeal has been instituted to assail the order of the Writ Court dated 11.12.2025 in W.P.No.48588 of 2025.
2. Dispute regarding a private temple arose between two groups in a village. The writ petition came to be instituted seeking a relief to direct the District Revenue Officer, Ranipet, to consider the representation submitted by the first respondent/writ petitioner on 14.11.2025 and to direct the District Collector and District Revenue Officer to permit the petitioner to conduct Kumbabishekham of Draupadi Amman temple, Bagaveli Village, Walajah Taluk, Ranipet District.
3. Admittedly, the subject temple is a private temple and administered by few villagers. Dispute arose on account of installation of idols and objections
raised by the rival groups. On an earlier occasion, due to law and order issue, the authorities initiated proceedings under Section 145 Cr.P.C. and an enquiry was conducted. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Ranipet, conducted an enquiry and passed orders on 19.01.2024, which came to be challenged in Crl.R.C.No.244 of 2024. A learned Single Judge of this Court passed an order on 25.08.2025 and relegated the authorites to approach the Civil Court for appropriate relief. In the event of any law and order issue, either of the parties may approach the police authorities for initiation of appropriate action under law.
4. This Court is of the considered view that private disputes in respect of private temple cannot be adjudicated in writ proceedings and such disputes would fall beyond the realm of powers of judicial review conferred under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Disputed issues cannot be adjudicated. It requires trial nature adjudication to be undertaken by the competent Civil Court of law. The learned Single Judge, while passing final orders in Crl.R.C.No.244 of 2024, has given a direction to the parties to approach the Civil Court for appropriate relief. Inspite of that, the further writ petition came to be filed seeking a direction to grant permission to the first respondent/writ petitioner to conduct Kumbabishekham. Such a relief sought for in the writ petition is not maintainable. Any representation relating to law and order issue
alone must be lodged before the jurisdictional police for appropriate action and in respect of all other disputes regarding temple administration, conduct of Kumbhabishekham festival, etc., the parties are at liberty to approach the competent Civil Court in the manner known to law. No writ would lie against private disputes and more so, when the subject temple is not falling under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959.
5. For all these reasons, the impugned order of the Writ Court dated 11.12.2025 in W.P.No.48588 of 2025 is set aside, by granting liberty to all the parties to approach the competent Civil Court of law for appropriate relief. Writ Appeal, accordingly, stands allowed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
[S.M.S., J.] [P.D.B., J.] 26.12.2025 sra/nsl Index:Yes/No Speaking order/Non-speaking order
To 1.
The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Ranipet District.
2.
The District Revenue Officer, Ranipet, Ranipet District.
3.
The Revenue Divisional Officer, Executive Magistrate, Ranipet, Ranipet District.
4.
The Tahsildar, Walaja Taluk, Ranipet District.
S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
AND P. DHANABAL , J.
sra/nsl 26.12.2025