Joesph Vasudevan Seenivasan v. The Regional Director
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 14.10.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.POORNIMA and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.21232, 21233, 21234 & 21235 of 2023 W.P.(MD) No.27074 of 2022 Joesph Vasudevan Seenivasan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Regional Director Office of the Regional Director Southern Region, Chennai, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, 5th Floor, A Wing, Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 6.
2.The Registrar Office of the Registrar of Companies, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 2nd Floor, Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 6.
3.The Director of Collegiate Education, E.V.K. Sampath Building, 9th Floor, Chennai 6.
4.The Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai 6.
5.The Director of Elementary Education College Road, Chennai 6.
6.Church of South India Trust Association (CSI TA) Rep by its Treasurer, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
7.Church of South India (CSI) Rep by its Moderator, CSI Synod Secretariat, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
8.The General Secretary Church of South India (CSI), CSI Synod Secretariat, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
9.Church of South India, Madurai - Ramnad Diocese, Rep. by its Bishop / Chairman, No. 162, East Veli Street, Madurai 625 001.
10.The Secretaries, Church of South India, Madurai - Ramnad Diocese, No. 162, East Veli Street, Madurai 625 001.
11.Rt. Rev. A. Dharmaraj Rasalam The Moderator, Church of South India (CSI), CSI Synod Secretariat, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents 2 to 8 herein from recognizing of implementing the resolution passed in the special diocesan council meeting dated 28.11.2022 or any other subsequent dates of the 9th respondent diocese and to appoint any Retired Judge of this Court as Administrator to conduct fresh Special Diocesan Council meeting or diocesan Council meeting in 9th respondent diocese to ratify or reject the amendments to the Constitution of the CSI, the 7th respondent herein passed by the special synod held on 07.03.2022. For Petitioner :
Mr.T.Pon Ramkumar For Respondents :
Mr.K.Govindarajan, - for R1 & R2 Deputy Solicitor General of India Mr.P.Thilakkumar, - for R3 to R5 Government Pleader
W.P.(MD) No.27075 of 2022 Joesph Vasudevan Seenivasan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Regional Director Office of the Regional Director Southern Region, Chennai, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, 5th Floor, A Wing, Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 6.
2.The Registrar Office of the Registrar of Companies, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 2nd Floor, Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 6.
3.The Director of Collegiate Education, E.V.K. Sampath Building, 9th Floor, Chennai 6. 4.The Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai 6.
5.The Director of Elementary Education College Road, Chennai 6.
6.Church of South India Trust Association (CSI TA) Rep by its Treasurer, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
7.Church of South India (CSI) Rep by its Moderator, CSI Synod Secretariat, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
8.The General Secretary Church of South India (CSI), CSI Synod Secretariat, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
9.Rt. Rev. A. Dharmaraj Rasalam The Moderator, Church of South India (CSI), CSI Synod Secretariat, 5, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14.
10.Church of South India Madurai-Ramnad Diocese, Rep. by its Bishop / Chairman, No.162, East Veli Street, Madurai - 625 001.
11. Tirunelveli Diocese Trust Association Rep. by its Bishop / Chairman, Old No.18, New No.19, North and No.126 High Ground Road, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli - 627 002.
12. Church of South India Kanyakumari Diocese, Rep. by its Bishop / Chairman, No.71A, Dennis Street, Nagerkovil - 629 001, Kanyakumari District.
13. Church of South India Tuticorin Nazareth Diocese, Rep. by its Bishop / Chairman, Cald Well Higher Secondary School Campus, 100, Beach Road, Tuticorin - 628 001, Tuticorin District.
14. Church of South India Trichy - Tanjore Diocese, Rep. by its Bishop / Chairman, Allithurai Road, Pudhur, Trichy, Trichy District.
... Respondents
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 6 herein to regulate the unregistered body of the respondents 10 to 14 herein either to register under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1971 or The Companies Act 1956 and to appoint any Retired Judge of this Court as Administrator of the respondents 10 to 14 herein till the unregistered body of the respondents 10 to 14 herein either to register under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1971 or The Companies Act 1956. For Petitioner :
Mr.T.Pon Ramkumar For Respondents :
Mr.K.Govindarajan, - for R1 & R2 Deputy Solicitor General of India Mr.P.Thilakkumar, - for R3 to R5 Government Pleader COMMON ORDER [Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble CHIEF JUSTICE] Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, at the outset, would submit that, by efflux of time, these petitions have been rendered
infructuous.
The statement is not opposed by learned counsels for the respective respondents.
2. Accordingly, both the PILs are disposed of as having rendered infructuous. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected interim applications are closed.
[MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, C.J.] [R.POORNIMA, J.] 14.10.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No RM
To 1.The Regional Director Office of the Regional Director Southern Region, Chennai, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, 5th Floor, A Wing, Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 6.
2.The Registrar Office of the Registrar of Companies, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 2nd Floor, Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 6.
3.The Director of Collegiate Education, E.V.K. Sampath Building, 9th Floor, Chennai 6.
4.The Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai 6.
5.The Director of Elementary Education College Road, Chennai 6.
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE and R.POORNIMA , J.
RM W.P.(MD) No.27074 of 2022 and W.M.P.(MD) No.18862 of 2023 14.10.2025