Raja Sethu Ramalingam S v. The Secretary

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 19.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.POORNIMA and W.M.P(MD)No.2508 of 2024 1.S.Raja Sethu Ramalingam 2.N.S.Kakaramuthu 3.S.Janagarajan 4.PR.Rajamanickam 5.K.R.Asaithambi 6.AL.Rajendran 7.M.Suba.Mayalagu 8.M.Thirunavukkarasu 9.N.Sankaran 10.AR.Pandi ... Petitioner Vs.

1/6

1.The Secretary, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Nungampackam, Chennai.

3.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.

4.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Sivagangai, Sivagangai District.

5.C.Balasubramaniyan 6.V.Karunanidhi ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Madamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the 4th respondent in O.A.No. 7/2016/E1 dated 21.09.2023 and quash the same as illegal, consequently directing the fourth respondent to pass orders as per the terms of compromise scheme dated 22.06.2023.

2/6

For Petitioners : Mr.Sudarsana Nachiappan Senior Counsel for Mr.A.L.Vjyeydevraj For Respondents : Mr.M.Kannan Government Advocate for R.1 to R.4

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by G.R.Swaminathan J.) Heard both sides.

2.The respondents 5 and 6 herein filed O.A.No.7 of 2016 before the Joint Commissioner, HR&CE Department, Sivagangai under Section 63(e) of the HR&CE Act claiming conferment of certain honours. The said OA was dismissed. Aggrieved by the same, the appellants filed A.P.No.37 of 2020 before the Commissioner, HR&CE. The appeal was disposed of by remanding the matter on the file of the Joint Commissioner, HR&CE. According to the writ petitioners, compromise was effected and in terms of the compromise, fresh order was passed on 22.06.2023. The grievance of the writ petitioners is that instead of passing a proper order in terms of the compromise, O.A.No.7 of 2016 was disposed of vide order dated 21.09.2023 in terms of the order made in W.P(MD)No.13654 of 2020. It is submitted that since the order has 3/6

now been set aside, the authority should pass a fresh order in terms of compromise.

3.We are not in a position to accede to the said prayer for more than one reason. The learned counsel for the contesting respondents would contend that the signatures attributed to them in the compromise memo is not theirs. Our attention is also drawn to the peace committee minutes from which it can be seen that there has been a strict opposition to the conferment of honours. More than anything else, when the Joint Commissioner had already passed an order in the O.A, the question of revisiting the issue may not really arise. In our view, the Commissioner should have passed an order on merits. This is particularly because Section 63 of the HR&CE Act specifically contemplates that the authority must enquire into and decide the dispute.

Since the issue has larger ramifications, it may not be appropriate to close the matter in terms of compromise signed by some of the parties alone. These are all matters in which an adjudication has to be only on their merits. We, therefore, revive A.P.No.37 of 2020. The Commissioner is directed to reopen the said appeal proceedings and give a disposal on merits and in accordance with law within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

4/6

4.This Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. [G.R.S., J.] [R.P, J.] 19.06.2026 5/5 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No MGA To 1.The Secretary, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Nungampackam, Chennai.

3.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.

4.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Sivagangai, Sivagangai District.

5/6

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

AND R.POORNIMA , J.

MGA 19.06.2026 5/5 6/6