IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 12-11-2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.B. BALAJI W.P. No. 43003 of 2025 and W.M.P .No. 48134 of 2025

1. A.Raviraj

2.V.Hemachalam

3.C.Jayaram

4.D.S. Vivekanandha

5.A.R Venkatesan ...Petitioner(s)

Vs

1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious And Charitable Endowments Department, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai -06

2.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious And Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai Region, 1, Evk Sampath Maaligai, 9th Floor, College Road, Chennai - 06.

...Respondent(s)

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to consider the representation of the members of the Sadhu Chetty community including the petitioners dated 24.04.2025 and direct the respondents to appoint Trustees for proper administration of Arulmigu Srinivasa Perumal Temple, No.18, Vathiyar Kandappa Pillai street, Choolai, Chennai - 112 from amongst the candidates, who had applied from the Sadhu Chetty community as mandated by law and also by order of this Court dated 06.07.1990 passed in W.P.No.15564 of 1989 within a reasonable time fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.Ramamoorthi For Respondent: Mr.S.Ravichandran, Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

Heard Mr.M.Ramamoorthi, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.

2.The petitioners seek the limited relief of issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to consider the representation of the Members of the Sadhu Chetty community, including the petitioners dated 24.04.2025.

3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the Temple has been managed by the Sadhu Chetty Community. It is the case of the petitioners that the Temple is managed under the Scheme framed by this Court and subsequently, modified in O.A.No.76 of 1961 filed under Section 64(b) of the H.R. & C.E. Act, 1959, by the Deputy Commissioner for H.R.&C.E.

Department dated 29.09.2000.

4.The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that despite calling for appointment of the Trustees in terms of the Scheme as modified by the order of the Deputy Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Department, many applicants have also given in papers, seeking appointment and interviews have also been conducted, no final orders have been passed for the past two years.

5.The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents would contend that the file is pending with the Government for the approval and that has caused delay in appointment of Trustees under the modified Scheme. The learned counsel would also point out that the State Government is not a party to the proceedings. However, it is only across the bar that the learned counsel for the respondents states that the papers are pending with the Government for approval and hence, the petitioners prayed for impleading the Government as a party.

6.In the light of the above, considering the limited prayer sought for in this Writ petition, this Court is inclined to direct the petitioners to give a detailed representation enclosing a copy of the representation dated 24.04.2025 to the Secretary, H.R. & C.E. Department, and on receipt of the same, the Secretary, H.R. & C.E. Department, shall consider the said representation and pass final orders with regard to the pending request for appointment of Trustees based on the request made by the Department, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of the representation from the petitioners.

Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs.

12-11-2025 mps Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No To

1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious And Charitable Endowments Department, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai -06

2.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious And Cha