Dhanalakshmi v. Additional Chief Secretary,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 17.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN and W.M.P(MD)Nos.6020, 6021 & 6025 of 2026 Dhanalakshmi ... Petitioner vs.
1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
3.The Regional Joint Commissioner, Thoothukudi Region, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.35/1A, West Car Street, Thoothukudi - 628 002.
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4.The Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer, Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tiruchendur - 628 215.
... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records in respect of the impugned order of the third respondent in Na.Ka.No.5031/2024/A2 dated 04.03.2026 and quash the same as illegal and against provision of Section 47(1)(c) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959.
For Petitioner : No appearance For Respondents : Mr.Veera Kathiravan (R1 to R3) Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader : Mr.M.Muthugeethaiyan (R4)
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) Challenging the impugned notification issued by the third respondent in Na.Ka.No.5031/2024/A2 dated 04.03.2026, as being contrary 2/7
to Section 47(1)(c) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition. 2.There is no representation for the petitioner. 3.According to the petitioner, pursuant to the directions issued by this Court in W.P(MD)No.5761 of 2026, dated 03.03.2026, the third respondent issued a paper advertisement dated 04.03.2026 inviting applications for appointment of non-hereditary trustees to the fourth respondent temple and uploaded the impugned notification in Na.Ka.No. 5031/2024/A2 dated 04.03.2026 on the website of the second respondent. However, only the paper advertisement was uploaded on the fourth respondent's website, and not the impugned notification. 4.The petitioner states that she downloaded the impugned notification and the application form from the website of the second respondent. It is further contended that neither the paper advertisement nor 3/7
the application form specifies that one member shall belong to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and another shall be a woman, as mandated under Section 47(1)(c) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition.
5.Heard Mr.Veera Kathiravan, learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents 1 to 3, and Mr.M.Muthugeethaiyan, learned counsel appearing for the fourth respondent. 6.We have perused the entire materials available on record. For the appointment of non-hereditary trustees, pursuant to the directions issued by this Court in W.P.(MD) No.5761 of 2026, dated 03.03.2026, the impugned notification has been issued. The statute mandates that, out of five trustees, one shall be a woman and one shall belong to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, and such requirements are to be adhered to at the time of appointment.
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7.Merely because the notification does not expressly specify the said requirements, it cannot be held that the notification is invalid in law. The notification is general in nature and does not preclude any eligible person, including women or persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, from applying. The selection process will commence only upon receipt of applications, and the statutory procedure contemplated under the Act will be duly followed at the time of appointment. Therefore, we do not find any merit in the challenge to the impugned notification. 8.Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 17.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No ps 5/7
To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
3.The Regional Joint Commissioner, Thoothukudi Region, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.35/1A, West Car Street, Thoothukudi - 628 002.
4.The Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer, Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tiruchendur - 628 215.
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N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.
and M.JOTHIRAMAN , J.
ps ORDER MADE IN DATED : 17.03.2026 7/7