Arulmigu Ayyanar Pidari Temple v. The Joint Commissioner

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 24.02.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY WP(MD).No.31956 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.25142 & 25143 of 2025 Aulmigu Ayyanar Pidari Temple, Malvai Village, Lalkudi Taluk, Trichy District, Rep. By its Hereditary Trustee, K.Baskaran, S/o.Karuppu Udayar.

... Petitioner Vs

1. The Joint Commissioner, HR and CE Department, Tiruchirappallai.

2. The Assistant Commissioner, HR and CE Department, Perambalur.

3. The Revenue Divisional Officer,

4. C.Dhanapal

5. C.Suresh 1/6

6. A.Soundarapandian

7. The Deputy Superintendent of Police,

8. Arumigu Ayyanar (Boomibalagan) Pidari, Karuppanna Swamy Temples, Malvai represented by its Executive Officer, Office at:

Arulmighu Sutharathineshwarar Temple, Oottathur, Lalgudi, ... Respondents (R8 is impleaded vide order of this Court dated 24.02.2026 in W.M.P.(MD)No.3501/2026) PRAYER :- Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the proceedings of the 3rd respondent made in Na.Ka.No.A1/3501/2025 dated 24.09.2025 and consequential proceedings of 2nd respondent made in Na.Ka.No.4086-2/2022, A4 dated 24.09.2025 and quash the same and consequently permit the petitioner to do the Poosari work at Temple.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Murali For Respondents : Mr.K.Balasubramani, Spl. Govt. Pleader for R1 to R3 Mr.R.G.Shankar Ganesh for R4 No Appearance for R5 Mr.T.Leninkumar for R6 2/6

Mr.A.Albert James, Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side) for R7 Mr.Ramesh Mahadev for R8

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed challenging the proceedings of the 3rd respondent made in Na.Ka.No.A1/3501/2025 dated 24.09.2025 and also the consequential proceedings of 2nd respondent made in Na.Ka.No.4086-2/2022, A4 dated 24.09.2025 and further seeking for a consequential direction to permit the petitioner to do the Poosari work at Temple.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the 3rd respondent, viz., the Revenue Divisional Officer, has no power to conduct a peace committee meeting and make a recommendation to the 2nd respondent viz., the Assistant Commissioner of the HR & CE Department for the appointment of a Poosari. However, the 2nd respondent, based on the proceedings of the 3rd respondent, appointed a third party as the Poosari of the temple by proceedings dated 3/6

24.09.2025. According to the petitioner, the said appointment is contrary to the scheme framed by the Civil Court in O.S. No. 471 of 1986, dated 27.07.1999. In the said scheme, it is stated that a person belonging to the Udayar community is to be appointed as the Poosari. However, through the impugned order, the 2nd respondent appointed a person belonging to another community as the Poosari of the temple. Hence, he prays for setting aside the impugned orders and for the issuance of an appropriate direction to appoint the petitioner as Poosari in terms of the judgment and decree passed by the civil Court in O.S. No. 471 of 1986, dated 27.07.1999.

3. This Court heard the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

4. Considering the submissions made by both sides, this Court is of the view that even assuming that the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), in order to resolve the dispute, conducted a peace committee meeting and made a recommendation for the appointment of a Poosari, the Assistant Commissioner ought to have followed the scheme 4/6

framed by the civil Court in O.S. No. 471 of 1986, dated 27.07.1999 and appointed a Poosari from the Udayar community. However, in the present case, a person belonging to a different community has been appointed. Therefore, the said appointment is contrary to the scheme framed by the Civil Court. Hence, the impugned orders are liable to be set aside.

5. Accordingly, the impugned orders are set aside and the matter is remanded to the 2nd respondent for fresh consideration. The 2nd respondent is directed to appoint a Poosari strictly in accordance with the scheme framed by the Civil Court in O.S. No. 471 of 1986, dated 27.07.1999 within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. With the above observations, this writ petition is allowed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed.

vsm 24.02.2026 Index : Yes/No NCC : Yes/No 5/6

KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J.

vsm TO

1. The Joint Commissioner, HR and CE Department, Tiruchirappallai.

2. The Assistant Commissioner, HR and CE Department, Perambalur.

3. The Revenue Divisional Officer,

4. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, WP(MD) No.31956 of 2025 Date : 24.02.2026 6/6