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WP No. 14159 of 2021

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 04-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM

AND

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN

WP No. 14159 of 2021

and

W.M.P.No.32024 of 2025

R.Nandhakumar

S/o.Rajagopal, Pasthalapalli village,

Kalingavaram Post, Shoolagiri Taluk, Krishnagiri

District.

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Commissioner

Hindu Religious and charitable Endowments

Department, Government of Tamil Nadu,

119,Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Thousand Lights

West, Nungambakkam, Chennai- 600 034.

2. The Joint Commissioner

Hindu Religious and charitable Endowments

Department, Government of Tamil Nadu,

Thiruvannamalai District.

3. The District Revenue Officer and

Special Officer (Temple Lands)Krishnagiri

District.

4. The Tahsildar

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WP No. 14159 of 2021

Taluk Office, Shoolagiri Taluk, Krishnagiri

District.

5. V.Chalapathi

S/o.T.V.Vasanthiah Residing at

Kudisathanapalli post, Shoolagiri Taluk,

Perigai, Krishnagiri District.

6. V.Chakarabani

S/o.T.V.Vasanthiah Residing at

Kudisathanapalli post, Shoolagiri Taluk,

Perigai, Krishnagiri District.

7. V.Thimmiah

S/o.T.V.Vasanthiah Residing at

Kudisathanapalli post, Shoolagiri Taluk,

Perigai, Krishnagiri District.

8. N.Hemanthkumar

S/o.Narasimmiah Residing at Kudisathanapalli

post, Shoolagiri Taluk, Perigai, Krishnagiri

District.

9. R.Narasimmamoorthy

S/o.Ramachandraiya Residing at

Kudisathanapalli post, Shoolagiri Taluk,

Perigai, Krishnagiri District.

10.T.V.Vasanthiah

S/o.Thimmiah Residing at Kudisathanapalli

post, Shoolagiri Taluk, Perigai, Krishnagiri

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District.

..Respondent(s)

To direct the respondents 1-4 to conduct an enquiry against the

Respondents 5-10based on petitioners representation dated 08.06.2021 and

restrain the Respondents 5-10 from interfering in the Temple Administration

and remove the encroachments caused by them in the 200 acres of Temple

Land at Kottasathanpalli Village, Perigai, Krishnagiri District.

For Petitioner(s): Mr. Thanga Vadhana Balakrishnan

For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Ravichandran,AGP,

for HR& CE for R1 & R2

Mr.T.Arunkumar,AGP for R3 & R4

Mr.G.M.Ananthakumar

for R5 to R8 and R10

R9-deceased – steps due.

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by C.Kumarappan J.)

The present writ petition has been instituted seeking for a direction to

the respondents 1 to 4 to conduct an enquiry against the respondents 5 to 10.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the subject

property belongs to temple which is falling under the control of Hindu

Religious and Charitable Endowment Department. The Inspector of HR&CE

Department has stated in his written instruction that actions are to be initiated

to evict encroachers by invoking Sections 78, 79 and 80 of the HR&CE Act.

3. In view of the above fact, the respondents 1 and 2 are directed to

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WP No. 14159 of 2021

ensure that appropriate proceedings are initiated under the appropriate

provisions of the Act for removal of encroachments in respect of the temple

property as expeditiously as possible.

4. With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No

costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

(S.M.S.,J.) (C.K.,J.)

04-02-2026

Index: Yes/No

Speaking/Non-speaking order

Neutral Citation: Yes/No

VSI

To

1. The Commissioner

Hindu Religious and charitable Endowments Department, Government of

Tamil Nadu, 119,Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Thousand Lights West,

Nungambakkam, Chennai- 600 034.

2. The Joint Commissioner

Hindu Religious and charitable Endowments Department, Government of

Tamil Nadu, Thiruvannamalai District.

3. The District Revenue Officer and

Special Officer (Temple Lands)Krishnagiri District.

4. The Tahsildar

Taluk Office, Shoolagiri Taluk, Krishnagiri District.

5. V.Chalapathi

S/o.T.V.Vasanthiah Residing at Kudisathanapalli post, Shool