Madras High CourtWP(MD)/16249/2025disposed of

Rengarajan v. The Commissioner

2026-06-11Honourable Mr.Justice Hemant Chandangoudar5 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR Writ Petition(MD)No.16249 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.12338 & 12339 of 2025 Rengarajan .. Petitioner Vs 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Chennai.

2.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Trichy.

3.The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

4.The District Revenue Officer, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

5.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Iluppur, Pudukkottai District.

6.The Block Development Officer, Panchayat Union, Viralimalai.

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7.The Tahsildar Kulathur Taluk, Pudukkottai District.

8.The Executive Officer, Mandaiyur Village Panchayat, Pudukkottai District.

9.R.Paulraj ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari to call for the records records relating to the impugned proceedings of the 6th respondent dated 24.04.2025 in Na.Ka.A2/0672/2024 and quash the same as illegal.

For Petitioner : Mr.V.R.Shanmuganathan For Respondents : Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff Govt. Advocate for RR1 to 5 & 7 Mr.G.Mathavan for R8

ORDER

The petitioner, claiming to be the hereditary trustee of the temple concerned, has instituted the present writ petition challenging the proceedings dated 24.04.2025 issued by the sixth respondent, whereby a licence was granted in favour of the ninth respondent to collect the usufructs from the trees standing around the tank, which, according to the petitioner, forms part of the temple property. 2/5

2.It is not in dispute that the licence in question was granted for the period from April 2025 to March 2026. The said period has admittedly expired during the pendency of the writ petition. 3.In view of the efflux of the licence period, no effective or meaningful relief can now be granted in the present proceedings. The challenge to the impugned proceedings has, therefore, become purely academic and does not survive for adjudication. 4.Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of as having become infructuous. However, liberty is reserved to the petitioner to work out his remedies and agitate his claim regarding the ownership and vesting of the tank appurtenant to the temple, namely, whether it vests with the temple or the local body, in the pending proceedings in W.A.(MD) No.1356 of 2025 or in any other proceedings known to law. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

11.06.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes skn 3/5

To 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Chennai.