Arulmigu Pidari Sri Anaiyalathamman Sangilikaruppu Temple v. The Revenue Divisional Officer
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 28.04.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN Arulmigu Pidari Sri Anaiyalathamman Sangilikaruppu Temple, Through its Hereditary Trustee, K.S.Rajashanmughavel.
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Petitioner Vs 1 The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Lalgudi, Tiruchirapalli District.
2 N.Balakrishnan, President of Hindu Mahasabha, Tiruchi District.
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Respondents (Second respondent is suo motu impleaded by order, dated 28.04.2025, in Writ Petition) PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned notice in Na.Ka.No.A1/1445/2025 on . 04.2025, dated 16.04.2025, issued by the respondent, quash the same and consequently direct the respondent to consider the petitioner's objection,
dated 17.04.2025, and to forbear the respondent from proceeding with the peace committee meeting scheduled on 24.04.2025 pending adjudication of the Original Application under Section 63(b) of the Act in O.A.No.8 of 2021 on the file of the Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department.
For Petitioner :
Ms.S.Mahalakshmi For Respondent 1 : Mr.A.Kannan, Addl. Govt. Pleader.
For Respondent 2 : Mr.K.Gokul
ORDER
The Writ Petition pertains to Arulmigu Pidari Sri Anaiyalathamman Sangilikaruppu Temple, situated within Kamatchi Amman Temple, Koothur Village, Pitchandar Koil, Manachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirapalli District.
2. The petitioner claims that his great grandfather one Sri Rangan Pillai granted lands to the temple in the year 1833 and 1844. The dispute arose as to who is hereditary trustee and the matter has been resolved by the District Munsif Court, Srirangam, in O.S.No.134 of 1913 on 23.10.1914. The petitioner states that he was adopted by one Meenakshi Sundarambal, only daughter of Arumugam Pillai, the grandson of the aforesaid Sri Rangan Pillai.
As the issue as to who is the hereditary trustee to manage the temple arose, the petitioner approached the Joint Commissioner, HR & CE Department, Trichy, in O.A.No.8 of 2021. The said proceedings are pending. As disputes arose year after year, this Court, in W.P.(MD) No.2981 of 2020, on 10.10.2022, directed the parties to maintain status quo till the disposal of O.A.No.8 of 2021.
3. On 21.03.2025, one N.Balakrishnan moved W.P.(MD) No.9824 of 2025 for a mandamus, directing HR & CE Department to conduct Chithirai Festival from 29.04.2025 to 01.05.2025. In the said writ petition, the petitioner herein was not a party. This Court had directed N.Balakrishnan to approach the Revenue Divisional Officer concerned with a prayer to convene a Peace Committee Meeting for peaceful conduct of the temple festival, ensuring participating of all communities and to maintain harmony during the festive occasion.
4. Subsequent to the said order, the said Balakrishan had approached the respondent herein. On 16.04.2025, the respondent issued a notice in Na.Ka.No.A1/1445/2025, calling upon the petitioner to attend the Peace Committee Meeting. Challenging the same, the present Writ Petition.
5. When the Writ Petition came up for hearing, Mr.K.Gokul pleaded that as the Peace Committee Meeting itself is being held pursuant to
the orders of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.9824 of 2025, this Writ Petition deserves dismissal.
6. Mr.A.Kannan, representing the first respondent, echoes the argument of Mr.K.Gokul, and pleads that the respondent is merely implementing the orders of this Court and no exception can be taken to the same.
7. I have carefully considered the submissions of both sides and also gone through the records.
8. There is already an order of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.2981 of 2020, dated 10.10.2022, directing the parties to maintain status quo pending disposal of O.A.No.8 of 2021. Subsequently, without impleading any of the persons interested in the temple, including the writ petitioner herein, the second respondent herein has obtained an order.
9. One order of the Court cannot be held to be in conflict with another, especially when they can be read harmoniously. The purpose of the order in W.P.(MD) No.9824 of 2025 is to ensure that the Chithirai Festival is conducted with peace and harmony. It has nowhere disturbed the order passed by this court in W.P.(MD) No.2981 of 2020. The order of status quo, as directed by this Court, will continue till the disposal of O.A.No.8 of 2021. The Peace Committee will not interfere with the rights of the parties to conduct the
festival as hereditary trustee. It will be confined to the conduct of the festival, without exclusion of persons belonging to any community, caste or creed. The festival will be conducted, as it had been done from the year 2022 onwards.
10. Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, the connected W.M.P.(MD) No.8878 of 2025 is closed. 28.04.2025 (2/3) NCC :
Yes / No Index :
Yes / No Internet :
Yes / No dixit To:
The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Lalgudi, Tiruchirapalli District.
V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN, J.
dixit (2/3) 28.04.2025