Tamil Nadu Rights to Informn v. The District Collector,

O R D E R (Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to forbear the respondents from in any manner converting the lands bearing Survey Nos. 679/1 and 679/2 or any other lands in Kanyakumari Village and District, belonging to the respondents 4 and 5 temple from using those lands either by granting lease or otherwise, for any commercial purpose of any nature by permitting the lessees to put up temporary constructions or to use those lands, for any petty trading, either on the floor or on any cycle or cart or by other means, so as to destroy the environmental conditions of Kanyakumari, more particularly in Thiruveni Sangamam and the Shores and Beaches abutting Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, so as to enable the respondents 1, 6 and 7 to maintain Kanyakumari with all the environmental advantageous, within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.

¶2We have perused the photographs and the Advocate Commissioner's report filed in the year 2019.

¶3Though certain suggestions have been made to remove the encroachment, it is submitted by the learned Additional Advocate General that the encroachments have already been removed and that, at 'Thiruveni Sangamam', only legal tenants are permitted and all other encroachments have been removed.

¶4The photographs submitted by the petitioner at pages 68 and 69 clearly indicate that, except for the commercial shop permitted by the temple, all other encroachments have been removed. The sketch filed before this Court further shows that certain regulations have been made following repeated orders passed by this Court. Therefore, we are of the view that once tenants have been inducted legally, their rights shall be determined in accordance with law, and they cannot be construed as encroachers. At any event, if the lease period expires, any additions made by the existing tenants whether permanent or temporary shall not be permitted and must be removed immediately. The area shall be kept clean and no further encroachments shall be allowed at any point in time

¶5Further, the relief sought in the writ petition amounts to an omnibus direction, seeking to restrain the authorities from granting any license. Such an omnibus direction cannot be granted. As long as the authorities follow the prescribed legal procedure, their right to lease out the properties cannot be curtailed by way of mandamus.

¶6However, liberty is granted to the petitioner to approach this Court in the event of any further encroachment or if any shop is permitted by the authorities beyond the existing ones. Only the existing structures, as shown in the photographs at pages 68 and 69, shall be continued.

¶7It is also noted that once the lease period expires, the fair rent has to be fixed annually in accordance with Government regulations. In the event of non-payment of fair rent or arrears, the lessee shall be evicted summarily, following due procedure under Section 78 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959. It is also made clear that a large number of tourists visit the Thiruveni Sangamam, and if any inconvenience is caused to the tourists or the public, the temple authorities may take a decision to make alternative arrangements, including allotting the shop at some other location.

¶8With the above observations, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. [N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.]

26.03.2026

Index :Yes/No NCC :Yes/No vsm N.SATHISH KUMAR

, J.

AND

M.JOTHIRAMAN, J. vsm To

¶1The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil.

2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai.

¶3The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Palayamkottai - Trivandrum Road, Tirunelveli - 7.

¶4The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, Kanyakumari District Temples, (Incorporated and Unincorporated), Suchindram.

¶5Executive Officer, Kanyakumari Special Grade Town Panchayat, Kanyakumari-629 702.

26.03.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 26.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN Tamil Nadu Rights to Information Act, Protection Movement, Regn. No.56/2010, Rep. by its President, T. Thangaraj, S/o.S.Thanga Muthu Nadar, No. 1/58-2, North Kundal, Upstairs, Kanyakumari. ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil. 2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai. 3. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Palayamkottai - Trivandrum Road, Tirunelveli - 7. 4. The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, Kanyakumari District Temples, (Incorporated and Unincorporated), Suchindram. 5. The Manager, Arulmighu Bagavathi Amman Thirukovil, Kanyakumari District – 629 702. 6. The Chairman, Kanyakumari Special Grade Town Panchayat, Kanyakumari District– 629 702. 7. Executive Officer, Kanyakumari Special Grade Town Panchayat, Kanyakumari-629 702. 8. Arul Mighu Bagavathi Amman Siru Viyaparihal Nala Sangam, Regn.No.17/99, Rep. by its President, R.Selvasivalingam, S/o.Rajamani, Thiru Kovil Valagam, Kanyakumari Post, District (R8 is Impleaded Vide Court Order dated 07/09/15 in M.P.(MD)No.1/15) 9. M.Murugan 10. E.Ramachandran 11. P.Rajan 12. E.Muthu 13. T.Selvakumar 14. V.Rajagopal 15. T.Saravanan 16. K.Murugan 17. M.Saravanan 18. P.Ganesan 19. S.Sivakumar 20. K.Manikandan 21. V.Murugan 22. T.Muthulingam 23. M.Suresh ... Respondents (R9 to R23 are impleaded vide Court order dated 29.09.2016 in M.P.(MD)No.2/15) PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the Respondents, from in any manner converting the lands bearing Survey Nos. 679/1 and 679/2 or any other lands in Kanyakumari Village and District, belonging to the respondents 4 and 5 temple from using those lands either by granting lease or otherwise, for any commercial purpose of any nature by permitting the lessees to put up temporary constructions or to use those lands, for any petty trading, either on the floor or on any cycle or cart or by other means, so as to destroy the environmental conditions of Kanyakumari, more particularly in Thiruveni Sangamam and the Shores and Beaches abutting Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, so as to enable the respondents 1, 6 and 7 to maintain Kanyakumari with all the environmental advantageous, within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.G.Aravinthan For Respondents : Mr.J.Ashok, Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1 to R3 Mr.K.Sathiya Singh for R4 Mr.H.Arumugam, Standing counsel for R6 Mr.S.Aayiram K.Selvakumar for R7 Mr.T.Lajapathi Roy, Senior Counsel for M/s.Lajapathi Roy Associates for R8 Mr.S.Sivanesan for R9 to R23