Renganathan S v. The Commissioner

O R D E R This Writ Petition is disposed of, at the time of admission, after dispensing with the notice on the seventh to eleventh respondents, as no adverse orders are proposed to be passed against them.

¶2This Writ Petition has been filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first to sixth respondents to take appropriate action against the seventh to eleventh respondents for illegally selling the temple land, based on the petitioner's representation dated 17.04.2025, within such time as may be fixed by this Court.

¶3The petitioner appears to be espousing a public cause for the retrieval of the temple lands, which are under encroachment. The petitioner had earlier approached this Court by filing W.P.(MD) No.7553 of 2023 seeking identical relief in respect of the lands comprised in S.F.Nos.52, 54/2 and 54/1 situated at Viswananthapuram Village, Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk, Thanjavur District. This Court, by order dated

25.04.2023, taking note of the report submitted by the Tahsildar, directed Page No. 3 of 8 the Joint Commissioner of H.R. & C.E. to take the necessary steps to evict the encroachers from the temple lands, after issuing due notice to all the parties concerned and to restore possession of the properties to the temple. It is submitted that pursuant to the said order, further action is being taken.

¶4It is the case of the petitioner that apart from the aforesaid lands, several other lands belonging to the temple have also been encroached upon and are required to be retrieved. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 17.04.2025 seeking appropriate action.

¶5The learned counsel for the Government of Tamil Nadu appearing for the first to sixth respondents would submit that the fifth respondent, the Special Tahsildar (Temple Lands), vide a communication dated 26.05.2026 bearing reference Na.Ka.No.69/2026/Aa.Ni., has already forwarded a report to the third respondent, the Assistant Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Department, regarding the encroachment of the temple lands, the survey numbers and the extent of which are detailed below: Page No. 4 of 8 Tamil English fpuhkk; Gy vz; gug;G (VH];) Village Survey No. Extent

(Ares) jpUtpilkUJ}u; 203/2V

0.29.0 Thiruvidaimaruthur 203/2A

0.29.0 jpUtpilkUJ}u; 203/2gp

0.90.0 Thiruvidaimaruthur 203/2B

0.90.0 jpUtpilkUJ}u;

0.74.0 Thiruvidaimaruthur

0.74.0 tp];tehjGuk;

1.27.5 Vishwanathapuram

1.27.5 tp];tehjGuk;

1.64.5 Vishwanathapuram

1.64.5 tp];tehjGuk; 44/17gp

0.40.0 Vishwanathapuram 44/17B

0.40.0 kUj;Jtf;Fb-1

0.54.5 Maruthuvakudi-1

0.54.5

¶6The learned counsel for the Government of Tamil Nadu appearing for the first to sixth respondents would further submit that appropriate steps have already been taken insofar as the temple lands are concerned and that some of the lands, which, according to the petitioner, belong to the temple, in fact belong to the Government and therefore, appropriate steps will be taken in accordance with law in respect of the remaining lands.

¶7The statement made by the learned counsel for the Government of Tamil Nadu appearing for the first to sixth respondents stands recorded. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the first to sixth respondents to proceed further on the petitioner's representation Page No. 5 of 8 dated 17.04.2025 and the communication dated 26.05.2026 bearing Ref. Na.Ka.No.69/2026/Aa.Ni. addressed by the fifth respondent to the third respondent, in accordance with law. There shall be no order as to costs.

06.07.2026 JEN NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No To

1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Aayiram Vilakku West, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034..

2.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Mayiladuthurai, Mayiladuthurai District.

3.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District.

4.The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Thiruvidaimaruthur,

5.The Special Tahsildar, Temple Lands, Kumbakonam, Page No. 6 of 8

6.The Special Revenue Inspector, Temple Lands, Kumbakonam, Page No. 7 of 8

C.SARAVANAN, J. JEN

06.07.2026 Page No. 8 of 8

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 06.07.2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN S.Renganathan ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Aayiram Vilakku West, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.. 2.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Mayiladuthurai, Mayiladuthurai District. 3.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District. 4.The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Page No. 1 of 8 5.The Special Tahsildar, Temple Lands, Kumbakonam, 6.The Special Revenue Inspector, Temple Lands, Kumbakonam, 7.Aathinakarthar Sri La Sri Ambalavana Desigar, Thiruvadudurai, Aathinam, Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk, 8.Arulmigu Mahalinga Swamy Thirukovil under the Control of Thiruvadudurai Aathinam, Represented by its Superintendent, Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk, 9.Baskaran 10.Balaguru 11.Prasad ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first to sixth respondents to take action against the seventh to eleventh respondents for illegally selling the eighth respondent petition mentioned temple land, based on the petitioner's representation dated 17.04.2025, within time frame as may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.A.N.Ramanathan Page No. 2 of 8 For R1 to R6 : Mr.S.Venkatesh Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu