Manikandan A v. The Commissioner

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 26.03.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P.(MD)No.8203 of 2026 and W.M.P(MD)No.6689 of 2026 Manikandan ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

2.The Joint Commissioner/ Executive Officer, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, Suchindhram, Kanyakumari District 3.The Superintendent, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, Padmanabhapuram Region, Kannyakumari District. 4.The Sree Kaariyam (Manager), Ponmanai Dewasom, Thippilankudi Mahadevar Temple, Ponmanai, Kanyakumari District

5. Murugan Kumar

6. Viji Kumar

7. Dheenakumar

...Respondents

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PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 4 to forbear the respondents 5 to 7 from collecting fund from the devotees of in Thippilankudi Mahadevar Thirukovil, Ponmanai in Kanyakumari District and also consequently forebear the respondents 5 to 7 from conducting any stage performance on their own in the temple by considering the petitioners representation dated 11.03.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Pugalendhi For R1 and R3 : Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader For R2 and R4 : Mr.R.Shankar Ganesh

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking a direction to respondents 1 to 4 to forbear respondents 5 to 7 from collecting funds from the devotees of Thippilankudi Mahadevar Thirukovil, Ponmanai, in Kanyakumari District, and consequently to restrain respondents 5 to 7 from conducting any stage performances in the temple on their own.

2. Mr. J. Ashok, learned Additional Government Pleader, accepts notice for respondents 1 and 3. Mr. R. Shankar Ganesh, learned counsel, accepts notice for respondents 2 and 4. In view of the order 2/6

proposed to be passed in this writ petition, notice to respondents 5 to 7 is dispensed with.

3. By consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the time of admission itself.

4. The grievance of the petitioner is that respondents 5 to 7 are collecting donations in Thippilankudi Mahadevar Thirukovil, Ponmanai, Kanyakumari District, which is under the control of the HR & CE Department.

5. The learned counsel appearing for respondents 2 and 4 submitted that they have already lodged a complaint before the Inspector of Police, Kulasekaram Police Station, against the private respondents in this regard.

6. In view of the above, the Inspector of Police, Kulasekaram Police Station, is directed to enquire into the matter on its own merits based on the complaint given by the temple authorities and to take action in accordance with law.

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7. In view of the above direction, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

[N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] 26.03.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes am 4/6

To 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

2.The Superintendent, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, Padmanabhapuram Region, Kannyakumari District. Copy To The Inspector of Police, Kulasekaram Police Station, Kulasekaram.

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N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.

AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.

am W.P.(MD)No.8203 of 2026 26.03.2026 6/6