BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 08.12.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI WP(MD)No.35097 of 2025 and WMP(MD)No.27812 of 2025 Shanmugavel ... Petitioner versus

1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.

2. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, H 306 TNHB Colony, Ellis Nagar, Madurai.

3. The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Virudhunagar, 4. The District Collector, 5. The Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk, 6. The Superintendent of Police, 7. Rajkumar ... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, seeking a direction, directing the 1 to 5 Respondents to grant permission for conducting Margali month pooja at Arulmigu Angalaeswari at Madha Kovil situated in Puthupalayam Village, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District from 19.12.2025 to 21.12.2025 and to allow all the villagers to worship the goddess and to take appropriate action as against the 7^th respondent for illegal closure of the above temple by considering the representation sent by the petitioner dated 01.12.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.J.Ananda Kumar for Mr.S.Vishnuvardhan For R1 to R5 : Mr.K.Balasubramanian, Special Government Pleader For R6 : Mr.A.Aber & James, Government Advocate

ORDER

The petitioner is a resident of Puthupalayam Village, Rajapalayam Taluk. He claims that he has been selected as the Head of the Temple Committee for Arulmigu Angaleswari @ Madha Kovil in the said village. According to him, the said temple is in existence for the past 300 years and it was constructed during reigns of the Pandya Dynasty. However, the 7^th respondent, claiming title over the temple, locked the temple and also prevented the devotees from entering into the temple.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner, by referring to a proceedings of the Thasildar submits that the Thasildar has also conducted a detailed enquiry and found that the temple is in existence for several years and even in the revenue records during SLR, it has been reflected only as a Temple and not belong to the 7^th respondent and therefore, directed to cancel the subsequent entries in the revenue records. Therefore, according to him, the temple is a public temple and devotees are prevented from entering into temple and now, it has been locked by the 7^th respondent.

3. Though serious allegations are made as against the 7^th respondent, considering the relief to be granted to the petitioner, notice to the 7^th respondent is dispensed with.

4. If all the public are having a right to worship in the temple, then the temple must be a public temple and offering prayers cannot be denied in the public temple. It is the responsibility of the revenue officials, particularly, the Thasildar to ensure that there is no law and order problem and no one is deprived from entering into the public temple.

5. Therefore, this Court directs the 3^rd and 5^th respondents to conduct a meeting along with the stakeholders and ensure that the subject temple remains open and the devotees are not prevented from worshipping the deity. In the event, if anybody is claiming title over the property, let them workout their remedy by approaching the appropriate forum.

6. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed anything on the merits of the claim of the parties. The parties have to workout their remedy before the appropriate forum. At the same time, if it is a public temple, the public cannot be denied to offer their prayers in the temple.

7. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

08.12.2025 ogy Index : Yes / No. Internet: Yes / No. NCC : Yes / No.

To

1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.

2. The Join