R.Rengaraj, v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 13.05.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and WMP(MD)No.10573 of 2026 R.Rengaraj ... Petitioner Vs.

1. The District Collector, Thanjavour District.

2. The Commissioner, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai.

3. The Joint Commissioner, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thanjavour District.

4. The Assistant Commissioner, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thanjavour District.

5. The Executive Officer, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Peravurani, Thanjavour District.

... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1/5

respondents to cancel or not to hold the annual function in Sree Veemanayagi Amman Temple which held on 18.05.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Kishore Kumar For R1 to R4 : Mr.D.Gandhiraj Special Government Pleader For R5 : Dr.Ramesh Mahadev

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed for a direction to the respondents to cancel or not to hold the annual function in Sree Veemanayagi Amman Temple which held on 18.05.2026

2. The petitioner is one of the Mandagapaditharars of Sree Veemanayagi Amman Temple for the past several years. The petitioner's Mandagapaditharars used to perform Kumbabishekam ceremony for the said temple every 12 years once. However, in the year 2022, the temple authorities did not conduct the Kumbabishekam and it is yet to be performed. Without conducting Kumbabishekam, the respondents are taking steps to conduct annual function. Therefore, the petitioner has filed this writ petition for a direction to the respondents not to conduct annual function of the said temple.

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3. Learned Special Government Pleader, on instructions, submits that it is only the annual function of the temple which is being held each and every year and it can be conducted without even conducting Kumbabishekam. Further, the petitioner is no way connected with the temple festival. Since one of the poojaris of the subject temple was removed and the petitioner is closely associated with him, he has filed this writ petition not to conduct annual function of the temple without conducting Kumbabishekam.

4. In view of the submission made by the learned Special Government Pleader, the relief sought for by the petitioner cannot be considered.

5. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 13.05.2026 Index : Yes / No : Yes / No bala 3/5

To

1. The District Collector, Thanjavour District.

2. The Commissioner, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai.

3. The Joint Commissioner, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thanjavour District.

4. The Assistant Commissioner, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thanjavour District.

5. The Executive Officer, The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Peravurani, Thanjavour District.

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G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

bala ORDER MADE IN W.P(MD)No.14159 of 2026 DATED : 13.05.2026 5/5