COMMON ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by DR.ANITA SUMANTH, J.)

1.A common order is passed in these two writ petitions as the cause of action is one and the same. Both writ petitions are stated to have been instituted in public interest. In W.P.(MD)No.22596 of 2025 challenge is to G.O.Ms.No. 135 dated 08.03.2024, which provides for various expenditures in respect of civil works, construction and allied work in the Shri Kallazhagar Temple (in short ‘Azhagar temple’ or ‘temple’).

2. In W.P.(MD)No.23501 of 2025, the challenge is to proceedings/work order dated 11.10.2024 issued by the Executive Officer in relation to the above civil works. The expenditures are stated to be part of the ‘Iconic Project’ (in short ‘project’), an initiative of the Government avowedly to provide for various facilities in ancient temples in the State of Tamil Nadu. The trustees of the temple have been impleaded as R4 to R6 in W.P.(MD)No.23501 of 2025. After hearing the parties in detail on 28.08.2025, this Court had granted an order of stay of new construction until further orders.

3. The submissions advanced on behalf of the petitioners, represented by Mr.M.R.Venkatesan for Mr.RM.Arun Swaminathan and Mr.S.G