Back
2025 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 46914
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N.ANAND VENKATESH, J
Sivaraj – Appellant
Versus
The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department – Respondent
Writ Petition | 23252 of 2025
For the Petitioner: Mr.R.Rajarajan for Mr.D.Nandhagopal
For the Respondents:Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R5, Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R6 & R7
Compliance with procedural requests for access to religious artifacts is essential for facilitating community events.
Headnote:(A) Writ of Mandamus - Constitution of India, Article 226 - The petitioner sought a mandate for the recovery of the inventory room key for temple decorations for the Maha Periya Kundam Festival scheduled for 30.06.2025 to 02.07.2025 - The 8th respondent had already given over the key to the 5th respondent, and the petitioner's father will hand over the remaining key - Directions given for peaceful conduct of the festival. (Paras 1-5)
(B) The court emphasizes that timely compliance of instructions by responsible parties is crucial for the successful execution of community cultural events. (Paras 2-4)
Facts of the case:
The petitioner filed a writ petition for a mandamus to retrieve the temple key essential for festival preparations—subsequent reports confirmed partial compliance with the request.
Findings of Court:
The court noted that the necessary key had mostly been handed over and directed actions for peaceful festival conduct.
Issues: The main issues were the status of the key for the upcoming festival and ensuring lawful order during the festivities.
Ratio Decidendi: The court established that compliance with procedural requests regarding religious artifacts is imperative, and the legal framework supports timely actions to uphold community traditions.
Result: Writ petition disposed of.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. mandamus to recover temple key for festival preparations. (Para 1) |
| 2. compliance regarding key provision for cultural events. (Para 2 , 3) |
| 3. ensuring peaceful conduct of religious festivals. (Para 4) |
| 4. disposal of writ petition based on compliance status. (Para 5) |
8.P.Shanmugam .. Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent 1 to 4 to recover the inventory room key of the Arulmigu Bathrakali Amman Tirukovil situated at Maakampalayam village, Saathyamangalam Taluk Erode district from the 8th respondent and hand over the inventory room key to the 5th respondent for accessing the jewelleries to decorate the idol for Maha Periya Kundam Festival Scheduled to be held on 30.06.2025 to 02.07.2025.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Rajarajan for Mr.D.Nandhagopal For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R5 Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam Government Advocate (Crl.Side)
for R6 & R7 ORDER This writ petition has been been filed for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 4 to recover the inventory room key of the Arulmigu Bathrakali Amman Tirukovil situated at Maakampalayam Village, Saathyamangalam Taluk, Erode District from the 8th respondent and hand over the inventory key to the 5th respondent for accessing the jewelleries to decorate the idol for Maha Periya Kundam Festival scheduled to be held on 30.06.2025 upto 02.07.2025.
2.When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 5 produced the written instructions received from the 5th respondent. On carefully going through the same, it is seen that the 8th respondent has already handed over the key to the 5th respondent. It is only the petitioner's father who is yet to handover the key to the 5th respondent.
3.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner's father will immediately handover the key to the 5th respondent and HE ALSO requested this Court to record the stand that has been taken by the respondents to the effect that the 8th respondent has already handed over the key.
4.Recording the stand taken by the respondents and recording the undertakING given by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner's father will handover the key to the 5th respondent, it is directed that the festival shall be conducted in a peaceful manner without giving rise to any law and order problem.
5.This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
