S.Neelamegham v. The Commissioner

Order This writ petition has been filed seeking to direct the 2nd respondent herein to strictly implement the Circular dated 01.6.2006 passed by the 1st respondent, which has been reiterated by orders dated 09.1.2023 and 26.4.2025 passed by the 5th respondent and 7th respondent respectively thereby prohibiting grant of First Honours to any one including the private respondents during the Page4 of 8 consecration of Arulmighu Mariamman Temple Sarkar Vazhavandi Village, Namakkal Taluk and District on 24.6.2026 and in other future festivals in the Temple.

2.Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the peittioner is a lineal descendant of one Nalla Nayakan, whose name finds in the Inam Fair Register of 1863 pertaining to Arulmigu Mariamman Temple, Sarkar Vazhavandhi Village, Namakkal District. According to the petitioner, the Temple has historically been administered by Poojaris who also functioned as Hereditary Trustees. Now the case of the petitioner is that despite the circular dated 01.06.2006 and repeated directions issued by the departmental and revenue authorities, the private respondents continuously demand and attempt to receive "First Honours" during the Temple festivals, resulting in recurring disputes and law and order issues. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed seeking to direct the 2nd respondent herein to strictly implement the Circular dated 01.6.2006 passed by the 1st respondent, which has been reiterated by orders dated 09.1.2023 and 26.4.2025 passed by the 5th respondent and 7th respondent respectively thereby prohibiting grant of First Honours to any one including the private respondents during the consecration of Arulmighu Mariamman Temple Sarkar Vazhavandi Village, Namakkal Taluk and District on 24.6.2026 and in other future festivals in the Temple. Page5 of 8

3.Learned Government's Counsel (HR & CE) appearing for the respondents 1 to 5 would submit that when a Government has issued a circular it is the duty of the respondents to follow the same. The petitioner cannot anticipate and file a writ petition seeking to direct the respondnets to follow the circular. He would further submit that the Circular dated 01.06.2006 will be followed by the official respondents.

4.Heard the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner; learned Government's Counsel (HR & CE) apeparing for the respondents 1 to 5; learned Government's Counsel appearing for the respondents 6 to 8; learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondent 9 to 10 and the learned counsel for the respodnents 11 to 14.

5.Considering the submission made by either parties, this Court is of the view that as rightly contended by the learned Government's Counsel appearing for the respondnets 1 to 5, the petitioner has filed this writ petition anticipating that the Circular dated 01.06.2006 issued by the 1st respondent will not be followed. Such being the case, this Court is not inclined to issue any direction to the respondents as sought by the petitioner, as doing so would purely undermine the official respondents by presuming they will not adhere to the circular dated

01.06.2006. Page6 of 8

6.In view of the above, this writ petition stands dismissed. No costs. 22-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order rst To

¶1The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Chairtbale Endowments, Admn, Dept., Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034.

¶2The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Admn, Dept., Erode District.

¶3The Asst. Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Admn, Dept. Namakkal District.

¶4The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitbale Endowments, Admn. Dept., Namakkal District.

¶5The Fit Person, Arulmighu Mariamman Temple, Sarkar Vazhavandhi Village, Namakkal Taluk and District, Having office at Palapattarai, Mariamman Kovil Namakkal Town, Namakkal District.

¶6The District Collector, Namakkal District. Page7 of 8

¶7The Revenue Divisional Officer, Namakkal.

¶8The Tahsildar, Mohanur, Namakkal District.

¶9The Superintendent of Police, Namakkal District.

10.The Inspector of Police, Paramathi Velur, Namakkal District. WPoNo.o23564oofo2026 KRISHNANoRAMASAMYoJ. rst WPoNo.o23564oofo2026 22-06-2026 Page8oofo8

Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 22-06-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY S.Neelamegham, S/o Subramani, No 2/5 Uppiliyar Street, Sarkar Vazhavandhi Village, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Chairtbale Endowments, Admn, Dept., Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034. 2. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Admn, Dept., Erode District. 3. The asst. Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Admn, Dept. Namakkal District. 4. The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitbale Endowments, Admn. Dept., Namakkal District. 5. The Fit Person, Arulmighu Mariamman Temple, Sarkar Vazhavandhi Village, Namakkal Taluk and District, Having office at Palapattarai, Mariamman Kovil Namakkal Town, Namakkal District. Page2 of 8 6. The District Collector, Namakkal District. 7. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Namakkal. 8. The Tahsildar, Mohanur, Namakkal District. 9. The Superintendent of Police, Namakkal District. 10.The Inspector of Police, Paramathi Velur, Namakkal District. 11.K. Maheswaran, S/o Mr. Kaliyanna Gounder, Chinna Karasapalayam, S. Vazhavanthi Post, paramathy Velur Taluk, Namakkal District. 12.R.Sathishkumar, S/o mr. Ramasamy Gounder, Periyakarasampalayam, Olapalayam Post, Namakkal District. 13.K. Balasubramanian, S/o Late mr. P.P. Kaliannan, peramandampalayam, S. Vazhavanthi Post, Paramathy Velur Taluk, Namakkal District. 14.Nallusamy, S/o mr. Muthusamy Gounder, Akkaraiyampalayam, K. Pudupalayam, Namakakl District. ..Respondent(s) Page3 of 8 PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constituion of India, praying for an issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent herein to strictly implement the Circular dated 1.6.2006 passed by the 1st respondent, which has been reiterated by orders dated 9.1.2023 and 26.4.2025 passed by the 5th respondent and 7th respondent respectively thereby prohibiting grant of First Honours to any one including the private respondents during the consecration of Arulmighu Mariamman Temple Sarkar Vazhavandi Village, Namakkal Taluk and District on 24.6.2026 and in other future festivals in the Temple. For Petitioner(s): Mr.T.S.Vijaya Raghavan For Respondent(s): Mr.D.Yashwanth Rajan Govt's Counsel (HR & CE) For R1 to R5 Mr.B.Pachaiyappan Govt's Counsel For R6 to R8 Mr.Durai Gunasekaran Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side) For R9 & R10 Mr.U.Gowrishankar for R11 to R14