P.Anbu Muthusamy v. The District Collector

J U D G M E N T [Judgment of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.] Today, WP(MD)No.35329 of 2025 and WP(MD)No.30305 of 2025 are listed together. The connected writ appeal in WA(MD)No.3273 of 2025 is listed in an additional list today.

¶2WP(MD)No.30305 of 2025 is filed as Public Interest Litigation by one P.Anbu Muthusamy alleging that the respondents 10 and 11 namely, Sonaimuthu and Muthunayagam are controlling the affairs of Arulmighu Sivan Kovil and Sri Ezhiya Gurusamy Jeevasamathi Temple and preventing public from worshiping the God and hence, necessary action to be taken against them pursuant to the representation given on 06.08.2025. Pending disposal of the writ petition, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has passed proceedings in Na.Ka.No.9086/2018/A1 dated

27.11.2025 appointing a fit person to the said temple. One Sonaimuthu and Muthunayagam, being aggrieved by appointment of a fit person, have preferred WP(MD)No.35329 of 2025 challenging the order of the Joint Commissioner appointing fit person. When the petitioners in that writ petition sought an interim order claiming that if fit person take charge on the next day, the writ petition would be infructuous, the learned single Judge declined to grant interim order. Challenging the refusal to grant interim order, it appears that the writ petitioners have filed a Writ Appeal in WA(MD)No.3273 of 2025 and the same is pending before the Division Bench of this Court.

¶3The learned counsels appearing for the respective parties as well as the standing counsels appearing for the HR & CE Department submitted that the fit person has already taken charge of the administration of the temple from 18.12.2025.

¶4Considering the subsequent development and the facts placed before this Court, we are inclined to dismiss the Public Interest Litigation filed by one P.Anbu Muthusamy in WP(MD)No.30305 of 2025 since the representation of the petitioner was considered and fit person has already been appointed and took charge on 18.12.2025.

¶5As far as the grievance of Sonai Muthu and Muthunayagam, who are the writ petitioners in WP(MD)No.35329 of 2025 and the appellants in WA(MD)No.3273 of 2025 is concerned, without expressing any opinion on the order of the learned single Judge refusing to grant interim relief to the petitioners in WP(MD)No.35329 of 2025, which is subject matter in WA(MD)No.3273 of 2025, we are inclined to dismiss WA(MD)No.3273 of 2025.

¶6In fine, WP(MD)No.30305 of 2025 and WA(MD)No.3273 of 2025 are dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. We de-link WP(MD)No.35329 of 2025. The Registry is directed to list WP(MD)No.35329 of 2025 before the learned single Judge dealing with the said roster to decide the matter on merits without being influenced by any of the observations made above. The petitioners in WP(MD)No.35329 of 2025 are at liberty to agitate their rights before the learned single Judge.

[G.J., J.] [N.S., J.]

16.02.2026 NCC : Index : Internet : CM To:

1.The District Collector, Madurai District,Madurai.

2.The Superintendent of Police, Madurai Rural District,Madurai.

3.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Samayanallur Sub Division, Madurai Rural District,Madurai.

4.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.H. 306, TNHB Colony, Ellis Nagar, Madurai – 625 016.

5.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.H. 306, TNHB Colony, Ellis Nagar, Madurai – 625 016.

6.The Executive Officer of Arulmighu Edaganathasamy Thirukovil,Thiruvedagam, Vadipatti Taluk,Madurai District.

7.The Tahsildar, Madurai North Taluk,Madurai.

8.The Inspector of Police, Samayanallur Police Station, Madurai District.

9.The Block Development Officer, Madurai West Panchayat Union,Madurai.

10.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Admin) Department, Uthamar Gandhi Salai,Ningambakkam,Chennai. DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN,-J. AND N.SENTHILKUMAR,-J. CM W.P.(MD)-No.30305-of-2025 and WA(MD)No.3273-of-2025 and-CMP(MD)No.20434-of-2025

16.02.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 16.02.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR W.P.(MD) No.30305 of 2025 and WA(MD)No.3273 of 2025 and CMP(MD)No.20434 of 2025 In WP(MD)No.30305 of 2025: P.Anbu Muthusamy ... Petitioner -vs- 1.The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai. 2.The Superintendent of Police, Madurai Rural District, Madurai. 3.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Samayanallur Sub Division, Madurai Rural District, Madurai. 4.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.H. 306, TNHB Colony, Ellis Nagar, Madurai – 625 016. 5.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.H. 306, TNHB Colony, Ellis Nagar, Madurai – 625 016. 6.The Executive Officer of Arulmighu Edaganathasamy Thirukovil, Thiruvedagam, Vadipatti Taluk, Madurai District. 7.The Tahsildar, Madurai North Taluk, Madurai. 8.The Inspector of Police, Samayanallur Police Station, Madurai District. 9.The Block Development Officer, Madurai West Panchayat Union, Madurai. 10.Sonaimuthu 11.M.Muthunayagam ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 9 to make arrangements for devotees of worshiping the Arulmighu Sivan Kovil & Sri Ezhiya Gurusamy Jeevasamathi Temple (HR & CE Controlled temple) situated at Thenur Village, Madurai district in which the 10th and 11th respondents are preventing the public in worshiping the God and excommunicating the people from worshiping the God by and also to implement the earlier order by Division Bench of this Court in WP(MD)No.26378 of 2022 dated 29.11.2022 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 06.08.2025. For Petitioner : No appearance For R1, R7 & R9 : Mr.S.P.Maharaja Special Government Pleader For R4 & R5 : Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader ForR2,R3 & R8 : Mr.K.Gnanasekaran Government Advocate For R6 : Mr.Guhaseelarupan For R10 & R11 : Mr.S.Sonaimuthu for Mr.S.Ramesh In WA(MD)No.3273 of 2026: 1.M.Sonaimuthu 2.M.M.Muthunayagam ..Appellants/Petitioners vs. 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Admin) Department, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Ningambakkam, Chennai. 2.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Admin) Department, Ellis Nagar, Madurai. 3.Fit Person, Arulmigu Edaganathasamy Temple, Thiruvedagam, Vadipatti Taluk, Madurai District. 4.Anbu Muthusamy ...Respondents/Respondents PRAYER: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order, dated 15.12.2025 passed in W.P.(MD) No.35329 of 2025, on the file of this Court. For Appellants : Mr.M.Veerachamy For R1 & R2 : Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader For R4 : Mr.V.Nagendran