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Madras High CourtWP(MD)/8949/2019allowed

Marichamy Naidu v. Thakkar(The Executive Officer,

2019-04-15Honourable Mr Justice G.R.Swaminathan7 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 15.04.2019

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN W.P.(MD)Nos.8949 to 9047 of 2019 and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.6915 to 7054 of 2019 Marichamy Naidu ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8949/ 2019 Subbulakshmi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8950/ 2019 W/O.Pethusamy Naidu Subbulakshmi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8951/ 2019 W/O.Late.Veerachamy Sulochana ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8952/ 2019 Chellathai, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8953/ 2019 Pandiaraj, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8954/ 2019 Muruganandam ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8955/ 2019 Banumathi, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8956/ 2019 Muthupandi Panchavarnam ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8957/ 2019 Indira, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8958/ 2019 Dhana Packiyam, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8959/ 2019 Lakshmi, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8960/ 2019 Kannan ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8961/ 2019 Arumugam, ... Petitioner in WP(MD).

8962/ 2019 Meenakshi Sundaram, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8963/ 2019 Dr.R.Diyanesh ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8964/ 2019 Anuradha, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8965/ 2019 Kasthuri Ammal ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8966/ 2019 Nagaiah ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8967/ 2019 Maheswari ... Petitioner in WP(MD).

Vasuki, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8969/ 2019 Arumugam ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8970/ 2019 Navaneetha Krishnan, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8971/ 2019 Raja, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8972/ 2019 Muthumari, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8973/ 2019 Murugesan, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8974/ 2019 Ponnaiah, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8975/ 2019 Saravanaraja, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8976/ 2019 Marikumar, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8977/ 2019 Lingammal, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8978/ 2019 Moisan, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8979/ 2019 Palaniselvi, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8980/ 2019 Valarmathi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8981/ 2019 Saroja, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8982/ 2019 Chamundeeswari, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8983/ 2019 Arulkumaran, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8984/ 2019 Arulkumaran ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8985/ 2019 Balammal ...

Petitioner in WP(MD). 8986/ 2019 Lakshmi, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8987/ 2019 Rengammal, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8988/ 2019 Meenabharathi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8989/ 2019 Vijayalakshmi, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8990/ 2019 Meenakshi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8991/ 2019 Subbulakshmi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8992/ 2019 Manoharan, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8993/ 2019 Murugesan, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8994/ 2019 Mahalingam @ Durairaj ... Petitioner in WP(MD).

Lakshmiammal, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8996/ 2019 Selvam, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8997/ 2019 Gandhimathi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8998/ 2019 Prakasam, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 8999/ 2019 Sugapriya, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9000/ 2019 Ganga, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9001/ 2019 Palsamy, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9002/ 2019 Dhanusuraman ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9003/ 2019 Vishrathi Nadesh ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9004/ 2019 Gurusamy, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9005/ 2019 Jebamalai W/o.Subramanian ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9006 to 9009 2019 Eswariammal ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9010/ 2019 Selvakumar, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9011/ 2019 Thedaselvam ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9012 to 9014 2019 Rajagopal, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9015/ 2019 Madurai City Benefit Fund Ltd.

Rep. by its Managing Director, K.Dharmar, S/o Kandasamy, No.15/1, Puttuthoppu Main Road, Puttuthoppu, Madurai-16 ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9016/ 2019 Kousalya, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9017/ 2019 Meenakshi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9018/ 2019 Subburaj, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9019/ 2019 Sankar ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9020/ 2019

Bose, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9021/ 2019 Palaniammal, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9022/ 2019 Gandhimathi, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9023/ 2019 Venkateswari ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9024/ 2019 Pounraj, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9025/ 2019 Devadass, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9026/ 2019 Pandiammal, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9027/ 2019 Murugesan ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9028/ 2019 Rajangam, ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9029/ 2019 Mariaselvi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9030/ 2019 Shanmuganathan @ Pazhavesam ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9031/ 2019 Eswari Ammal ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9032/ 2019 Pakialakshmi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9033/ 2019 Gopalsamy ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9034/ 2019 Ramesh ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9035/ 2019 Subbulakshmi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9036/ 2019 Ponnuthai ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9037/ 2019 Pandiarajan ...

Petitioner in WP(MD). 9038/ 2019 Saravanaraja ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9039/ 2019 Ravi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9040/ 2019 Vijayalakshmi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9041/ 2019 Gnanasekar ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9042/ 2019 Gandhimathi ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9043/ 2019 Ramu ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9044/ 2019 Balakrishnan ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9045/ 2019 Thedaselvam ... Petitioner in WP(MD). 9046/ 2019 Seenivasan ... Petitioner in WP(MD).

Vs.

Thakkar, (The Executive Officer, Arulmighu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, Madurai), Arulmighu Puttu Urchava Vagaiyara Kattalai, Arulmighu Sokkanathar Thirukovil, Puttuthoppu, Madurai - 625 016.

... Respondent in all the WP's COMMON PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the impugned orders of the respondent dated 23.06.2018 and 14.02.2019 and quash the same as illegal and consequently directing the respondent to re-fix the fair rent in accordance with law.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Kannan, in all WP's For Respondent : Mr.M.Saravanan, in all WP's C O M M O N O R D E R Mr.M.Saravanan, learned counsel takes notice for the respondent.

2. Heard the learned counsel on either side. By consent, the main Writ petitions are taken up for final disposal.

3. The Writ petitioners herein have been paying ground rent to the respondent institution. The ground rent has been revised and enhanced by the impugned orders dated 23.06.2018. The enhancement has been made with effect from 01.07.2016. The petitioners' counsel contends that the procedure laid down in the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1959 has not been followed and that is why he has straightaway approached this Court without availing the alternative remedy.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent opposed the Writ petitions and wanted this Court to dismiss the same by sustaining the orders impugned in these Writ petitions.

5. I carefully considered the rival contentions.

6. The Hon'ble Division Bench in the decision reported in (2009) L.W.

728(Arulmigu Angala Parameswari and Kasivishwanathaswami Temple Adimanaiveal House Owners Asso. V. The

State of Tamil Nadu & others) had laid down the procedure to be followed for revising the lease rent in terms of Section 34(A)(2) of the Act. Paragraph Nos.15, 16 and 17 of the said decision are particularly relevant. It is seen that the procedure indicated in the aforesaid decision has not been followed in the present case. Therefore, on that sole ground, the orders impugned in these Writ petitions stand quashed. The Writ petitions stand allowed, accordingly.

7. The matter is remitted to the file of the competent body constituted under Section 34(A)(2) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act. The said body will pass orders in accordance with law, after putting the petitioners on notice. It is made clear that the respondent would complete the exercise of revising and refixing the rent payable by the petitioners herein within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

8. The matter cannot rest there. The petitioners are occupying the property belonging to the religious institution. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners on instructions submitted that the petitioners would continue to pay in the following manner:- Old Rate + 50% of the enhancement.

Since the enhancement has been made with effect from 01.07.2016, the petitioners shall also pay 25% of the arrears within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If the petitioners fail to pay the arrears within the aforesaid period, the order now passed will stand automatically recalled and the Writ petitions would stand dismissed.

9. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners on instructions further specifically undertook not to apply for any extension of time or modification of the order now passed. The said undertaking is also recorded. It is made clear that the rights of both the parties are left open.

No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous petitions are closed.

SD ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ( C.O. ) TRUE COPY SUB ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ( CS ) pmu

To Thakkar, (The Executive Officer, Arulmighu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, Madurai), Arulmighu Puttu Urchava Vagaiyara Kattalai, Arulmighu Sokkanathar Thirukovil, Puttuthoppu, Madurai - 625 016.

1CC TO MR.M.KANNAN, ADVOCATE SR 61344 5CC'S TO MR.M.SARAVANAN,ADVOCATE SR 61174 KK 27/06/2019 7P 8C W.P.(MD)Nos.8949 to 9047 of 2019 and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.6915 to 7054 of 2019 15.04.2019