Abul Kalaam Azad Sulthan v. The Commissioner

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 31.01.2024

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.KRISHNAKUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR Abul Kalaam Azad Sulthan : Petitioner Vs.

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

2.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai.

3.The Secretary to Government, Tourism, Tamil Culture and Charitable Endowments Department, Secretariat, Chennai.

4.The Director General of Police, Fire and Rescue Services, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.

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5.The Regional Director, Archeological Survey of India, Regional Office, Madurai.

: Respondents [R3 to R5 are impleaded vide order dated 06.02.2018] PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for a Writ of Mandamus, restraining the respondents from modifying the temple structures for commercialization and also to restore the illegal construction/ modified structures to its original state and consequently close the commercial shops constructed inside the temples and ancient structures.

For Petitioner : Mr.RM.Arun Swaminathan For Respondents 1 & 3 : Mr.N.Satheesh Kumar Additional Government Pleader For Respondent No.2 : Mr.VR.Shanmuganathan For Respondent No.4 : Mr.R.Meenakshi Sundaram Additional Public Prosecutor For Respondent No.5 : Mr.Karthikeya Venkatachalapathy Central Government Standing Counsel 2/6

O R D E R

************ [Order of the Court was made by D.KRISHNAKUMAR, J.] This Writ Petition has been filed for a direction to restrain the respondents from modifying the temple structures for commercialization and also to restore the illegal construction/ modified structures to its original state and for a consequential direction to close the commercial shops constructed inside the temples and ancient structures.

2.Today, when the matter was taken up for hearing, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent temple submitted that now they have removed all the shops located within the temple premises. He further submitted that as on date there are no shops operating inside the temple premises and further temple administration has taken a decision not to permit any commercial shops within temple premises and further all the renovation works are being carried out in temple premises only after getting necessary approval from High Court High Level Committee. 3/6

3.Recording the aforesaid submission, this Writ Petition stands closed. There shall be no order as to costs. [D.K.K.,J.] & [R.V.,J.] 31.01.2024 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No MR 4/6

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

2.The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai.

3.The Secretary to Government, Tourism, Tamil Culture and Charitable Endowments Department, Secretariat, Chennai.

4.The Director General of Police, Fire and Rescue Services, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.

5.The Regional Director, Archeological Survey of India, Regional Office, Madurai.

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D.KRISHNAKUMAR, J.

and R.VIJAYAKUMAR, J.

MR ORDER MADE IN 31.01.2024 6/6