S.Kamaraj@Muthalakurichi v. Union Of India, Represented By
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 02.12.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN and W.M.P.(MD).No.10149 of 2017 S.Kamaraj @ Muthalakurichi Kamaj ... Petitioner Vs.
1. Union of India, represented by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, 501, C Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110 015.
2. Archaeological Survey of India, Represented by the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi -110 011.
3. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by the its Principal Secretary, Department of School Education and Sports and Youth Welfare (Archaeology), Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
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4. State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Tamil Valarchi Valaagam, Thamizh Salai, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.
5. The Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore Circle, 5th Floor, 5 Wing, Kendriya Sadan, 17th Main Road, Koramangala, Bangalore -560 034.
6. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thoothukudi.
7. Dr.T.Sathyamurthy, Superintending Archaeologist,(Retd) 82/46, Venkataratnan Nagar, Adyar, Chennai.
8. Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Frazer Bridge Road, Chennai.
... Respondents (R7 suo motu impleaded vide Court Order dated 30/01/2018 in W.P. (MD)13096/17) (R8 suo motu impleaded vide Order dated 25/04/2019 made in W.P. (MD).No.13096/17) PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to take action to continue the excavations in the archaeological site of 2/7
Adichanallur, Thoothukudi District, consequently to direct the respondents to take immediate action to display the antiquities and ancient materials excavated from Adichannalur by set up a museum in Adichanallur within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Alagumani For Respondents : Mr.C.Nandagopal, CGSPC for R1 Mr.P.Thilakkumar, Government Pleader for R3, R4 and R6 Mr.R.Murugappan, for R2 & R5
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.) This writ petition is filed to direct the respondents to take continuous action for excavating the archaeological site at Adichanallur, Thoothukudi District.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that earlier, the Archaeological Survey of India undertook the excavation project at Athichanallur in about 114 acres of land. However, 3/7
the excavation was limited to a smaller portion. Hence, after filing of this present writ petition, several directions were given by this Court for the State Government as well as the Central Government, as a result, the State Government has taken excavation in the remaining portion and have also established a museum, by name, "Porunai Arungatchiyam" which is proposed to be opened for public within a month. The further contention of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner is that the request of the State Government to the Archaeological Survey of India to extend their excavation in the fenced 114 acres of land being declined by the Central Government and if the Central Government is directed to conduct excavation on their own or through the State Government, further more interesting antiques and ancient materials are likely to surface.
3. The present writ petition is pending before this Court for nearly eight years pursuant to continuous monitoring, the State Government is able to excavate the region and establish a museum in that area. If the experts of the State Government are of the opinion that further excavation will help them to discover more materials, it is always open to the State Government to make a necessary request to the Archaeological Survey of India and get their permission for excavating 4/7
the area, which is now under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India.
4. We wish to add that if any such request is made by the State Government, the Archaeological Survey of India shall consider it positively and extend full co-operation for the excavation.
5. With these observations, this writ petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition stands closed.
[G.J., J.] & [K.K.R.K., J.] 02.12.2025 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes TSG To
1. The Principal Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Department of School Education and Sports and Youth Welfare (Archaeology), Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The Commissioner, State of Tamil Nadu, Department of Archaeology, Tamil Valarchi Valaagam, Thamizh Salai, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.
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3. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thoothukudi.
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DR.
G. JAYACHANDRAN , J.
AND K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN, J.
TSG 02.12.2025 7/7