R.Manibharathi v. Union Of India

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 19.07.2024

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.D.KRISHNAKUMAR, THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR W.P.(MD)No.13401 of 2024 R.Manibharathi ... Petitioner -Vs1.Union of India, Rep. by The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Union of India, 501,'C' Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110 015.

2.State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by The Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

3.The Commissioner, State of Tamil Nadu, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034.

4.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Madurai District.

5.The Joint Commissioner, Office of the Joint Commissioner, H 306, TNHB Colony, Ellis Nagar, Madurai-625 016.

6.The Executive Officer, Office of the Executive Officer, Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple, Chithirai Street, Madurai-625 001.

... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to take appropriate action to carry out restoration work in 'Pudhu Mandapam' situating near Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai on the basis of the report dated 16.06.2022 submitted by Dr.S.Santhalingam, Archeology Consultant and proposal of the respondent No.6 in Na.Ka.No.1118/2023/Oo.2, dated 26.05.2023 in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Alagumani For R1 : Mr.K.Govindarajan, Deputy Solicitor General of India For R2 to R5 : Mr.P.Thilakkumar, Government Pleader For R6 : Mr.V.R.Shanmuganathan

ORDER

[Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE] The prayer sought for in this Writ Petition is to direct the respondents to take appropriate action to carry out restoration work in 'Pudhu Mandapam' situating near Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai on the basis of the report dated 16.06.2022 submitted by Dr.S.Santhalingam, Archeology Consultant and proposal of the 6th respondent in Na.Ka.No.1118/2023/Oo.2, dated 26.05.2023 in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court. 2.Today, when the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned counsel for the 6th respondent Temple fairly stated before this Court that the concerned authority already granted permission for the renovation work in 'Pudhu Mandapam'. Now, the work is going on and the same would be completed at an earliest point of time, preferably, within a period of six months ie., on or before 31.12.2024.

3.Recording the said submission made by the learned counsel for the 6th respondent, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the temple

authorities to complete the entire renovation work as early as possible, preferably, on or before 31.12.2024. No costs.

[D.K.K., A.C.J.] & [R.V., J.] 19.07.2024 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Yuva To 1.The Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2.The Commissioner, State of Tamil Nadu, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034.

3.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Madurai District.

4.The Joint Commissioner, Office of the Joint Commissioner, H 306, TNHB Colony, Ellis Nagar, Madurai-625 016.

5.The Executive Officer, Office of the Executive Officer, Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple, Chithirai Street, Madurai-625 001.

D.KRISHNAKUMAR, A.C.J.

AND R.VIJAYAKUMAR , J.

Yuva W.P.(MD)No.13401 of 2024 19.07.2024