IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 09.02.2026 CORAM :

THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and WMP.No.5183 of 2026 P.Rajendiran .. Petitioner Versus

1. The Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Endowments Department, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.

2.The Commissioner, HR & CE Department, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034.

3.The Joint Commissioner, Perunthittavalagam, Villupuram, Villupuram District.

4.The Assistant Commissioner, cum Executive Officer, Arulmigu Angalamman Thirukoil, Melmalaiyanoor, Gingee Taluk, Villupuram District 604 204.

5.The Election Officer / Assistant Commissioner, HR&CE Department, Kallakuruchi.

6.The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Arulmigu Angalamman Thirukoil, Melmalaiyanur, Villupuram District. .. Respondents For Petitioner : Mr.M.G.Balamurugan For Respondents : Mr.N.R.R.Arun Nalarajan, Special Government Pleader (HR&CE)

Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the entire records pertaining to issuance of the order dated 12.01.2026 and 21.01.2026 passed by the 5^th respondent regarding the postponement of election to the Board of Trustees of Arulmigu Angalamman Thirukovil, Melmalaiyanur, Villupuram District and quash the same. Consequently direct the 5^th respondent or any other officer to be appointed by the 2^nd respondent to conduct the elections to the Board of Trustees of the Arulmigu Angalamman Thirukovil, Melmalaiyanur, Villupuram District on or before

15.02.2026.

ORDER

This writ petition is filed challenging the public notice, originally fixing the finalisation of the voters list and thereafter now postponing the same by giving a new schedule.

2. Mr.M.G.Balamurugan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, by taking this Court through the material records of this case, would submit that only to facilitate the existing trustees to continue beyond their term, unnecessarily the present notice Re-notifying the entire schedule of including new voter names, publishing of draft voter list, objection to draft voter list and finalisation of voter list, is now being rescheduled to 30.12.2025, 12.02.2026, 27.02.2026 and 02.03.2026 respectively. As a matter of fact during the last election, more than 128 objections were received and everything was considered and disposed of on the same day. Similarly as per the original notification itself it would have been possible for the respondents to finalise the voter list. Only for extraneous reasons the present impugned notice is issued and therefore, the petitioner is before this Court.

3. The learned Special Government Pleader taking notice would submit that some of the objections and requests were also from persons who are residing abroad and they requested short time to be present and make the materials available.

4. Considering the nature of request that is made and the number of objections that are received, it was decided that it would be desirable to give ample time for everyone to give their name to be added in the voter list, to publish the draft voter list and for objections and for a decision.

There is no oblique motive regarding the same.

5. Considered the rival submissions made on either side and the material records of the case.

6. When several objections are being received, on finding that some more time will be necessary, the revised schedule is published by the impugned order. I do not see any reasons to interject in between, when the respondents are carrying out their due exercise of selecting the new Board of Trustees. At the same time, the apprehension is that by resorting to these methods, the existing trustee should not be continued beyond their point. Now by the order passed in the connected writ petition, already it is recorded that the existing trustees will be continued upto the Thiruvizha. The learned Special Government Pleader also submits that they will strict to the schedule and see to that the voter