Sundaram v. The District Registrar

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 25.06.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.13293 and 13294 of 2026 Sundaram ... Petitioner -vs1.The District Registrar, Registration Department, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.

2.The Sub Registrar, Meemisal Sub Registrar Office, Meemisal, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukkottai District.

3.The Executive Engineer, Arulmigu Kalyanaramasamy Temple, Meemisal, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukkottai District.

... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned order in Na.Ka.No. 52/2026 dated 01.04.2026 passed by the second respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the second respondent to register the document which is to be presented by

the petitioner for the properties in S.F.Nos.186/5 and 188/5, situated in Alathur Revenue Village, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukkottai District, within a time frame fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Paranjothi M/s.KBS Law Office For R1 and R2 : Ms.P.Sudarkodi Nachiar Government Standing Counsel For R3 : Mr.G.Mathavan

ORDER

The writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned order dated 01.04.2026.

2. Upon hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and perusing the materials available on record, it is seen that, upon receipt of a communication under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908, stating that the subject property belongs to a religious institution, namely, the Temple, the Sub Registrar conducted an enquiry as mandated by the judgment of the Division Bench of this Court in Sudha Ravi Kumar and another v. The Special Commissioner and Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,

Chennai and others [(2017) 3 CTC 135]. Pursuant to such enquiry, the Sub Registrar came to the conclusion that the parties should seek appropriate relief before the competent Civil Court or in the pending civil proceedings, if any.

3. The grievance of the petitioner, however, is that the impugned order does not contain any finding with regard to the document presented for registration and that the Sub Registrar has neither passed an order refusing registration nor registered the document. It is also seen that the petitioner has preferred an appeal before the first respondent/District Registrar on 16.04.2026 challenging the impugned order.

4. In view of the above, this writ petition is disposed of on the following terms:

(i) The first respondent shall take up the appeal preferred by the petitioner on 16.04.2026, issue notice to the petitioner as well as the third respondent, afford them an opportunity of hearing, and dispose of the appeal in accordance with law.

(ii) The aforesaid exercise shall be completed as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a web copy of this order.

(iii) No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

25.06.2026 NCC : No smn2 To:- 1.The District Registrar, Registration Department, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.

2.The Sub Registrar, Meemisal Sub Registrar Office, Meemisal, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukkottai District.

3.The Executive Engineer, Arulmigu Kalyanaramasamy Temple, Meemisal, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukkottai District.

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY , J.

smn2 25.06.2026