S.Mohammed Sait v. The Joint Commissioner

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 12.02.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER S.Mohammed Sait ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Joint Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Dindigul.

2.The Assistant Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Dindigul.

3.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Venkatachalapathi Temple, Periyakottai, Dindigul District.

4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Dindigul District.

5.The Thasildhar, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District.

... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the fourth and fifth Page No. 1 of 6

respondents to remove the entry Blocked (Temple Land - Blocked) in the Patta bearing No.1352 in respect of the property comprised in S.No. 469, Periyakottai Village, Dindigul East, Dindigul District and revert back the same to its earlier position in the name of Perumal Maniam, Krishna Maniam alone on the basis of the petitioner's representations dated 24.10.2025 and 05.12.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.G.Shankar Ganesh For R1 & R2 : Mr.P.Subbaraj Special Government Pleader For R4 & R5 : Mr.D.Sadiq Raja Additional Government Pleader *****

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the fourth and fifth respondents to remove the entry "Blocked (Temple Land - Blocked)" in Patta No.1352 in respect of the property comprised in Survey No.469, Periyakottai Village, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District and to restore the patta to its earlier status in the names of Perumal Maniam and Krishna Maniam, based on the petitioner's representations dated 24.10.2025 and 05.12.2025. Page No. 2 of 6

2. The grievance of the petitioner is that he claims title to the property in question. The said property was purchased from the descendants of the founder of Arulmigu Venkatachalapathi Temple situated in Survey No.471/3. The temple was subsequently taken over by the H.R. & C.E. Department due to improper administration. Except the land in Survey No.471/3, in which the temple is situated, the remaining properties are the private properties of the founder. Patta was originally issued in the name of the founder and thereafter in the names of his descendants. Thus, the property in question is a private property.

3. While the petitioner attempted to alienate the property and present the document for registration, he came to know that at the instance of the third respondent, the fifth respondent had made an entry as "Blocked (Temple Land - Blocked)" in Patta No.1352 in respect of the subject property, without issuing notice either to the petitioner or to the descendants of the temple founder. Therefore, the petitioner submitted representations dated 24.10.2025 and 05.12.2025 to the fourth and fifth respondents seeking removal of the erroneous entry. However, no action has been taken. Hence, the petitioner has been constrained to file the present Writ Petition.

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4. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the fourth and fifth respondents, on instructions, would submit that the petitioner's representations dated 24.10.2025 and 05.12.2025 would be considered and appropriate orders would be passed by the fourth respondent within a period of sixteen weeks.

5. Recording the above submission and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the fourth respondent to consider the petitioner's representations dated 24.10.2025 and 05.12.2025, conduct enquiry and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of sixteen weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The fourth respondent is also directed to provide a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, the temple authorities and any other interested parties who may be affected by such decision, before passing any order. There shall be no order as to costs.

[K.SURENDER, J.] 12.02.2026 JEN Index : Yes / No Page No. 4 of 6

To 1.The Joint Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Dindigul.

2.The Assistant Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Dindigul.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Dindigul District.

4.The Thasildhar, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District.

Page No. 5 of 6

K.SURENDER , J.

JEN 12.02.2026 Page No. 6 of 6