BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.02.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY & W.M.P(MD)No.3066 of 2026 K.R.Periyakaruppan ... Petitioner Vs.

1. The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department Chennai.

2. The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department Thanjavur.

3. The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department Pudukkottai.

... Respondents Prayer:

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to directing the respondents to constitute thirupani Committee to renovate the temple of Arumigu Sree Kannudaiyar Ayyanar Temple Situate at pudunilaipatti village, Thirumayam Taluk, Pudukottai district and consequently direct the respondent to receive contribution from the villagers towards the removation and kumbavisegam of the said temple by recalling order dated 27.01.2026 made in na.Ka.No.3411/2025/E1 by considering petitioner representation dated 31.01.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Balasundaram, Sr.counsel for M/s.KBS Law Office For Respondent : Mr.Veerakathiravan, AAG Asst. by Mr.K.Balasubramani, SGP

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents to constitute “Thirupani Committee” to renovate the subject temple and consequently, direct the respondents to receive contribution from the villagers towards the renovation and kumbavisegam of the said temple by recalling order dated 27.01.2026.

2. The learned Senior counsel for the petitioner would submit that in this case, initially, the petitioner had filed a writ petition in WP(MD)No.36641 of 2025, seeking for a direction to dispose the representation dated 25.11.2025, which was filed for formation of “Thirupani Committee”. The said writ petition was disposed of by this Court vide order dated 02.01.2026, whereby, the 3^rd respondent was directed to dispose of the aforesaid representation dated 25.11.2025 within a period of 4 weeks. Pursuant to the same, the 3^rd respondent had passed the order dated 27.01.2026, whereby, he rejected the representation filed by the petitioner for formation of “Thirupani Committee”.

3. Now, by referring the order dated 27.01.2026 passed by the 3^rd respondent, the learned Senior counsel for the petitioner would submit that as per Rule 53 of the Administration and Protection of Temple Property Rules (hereinafter called as “the Rules”), if any donation is collected for the purpose of renovation or Kumbavisegam of the Temple, it is mandatory on the part of the incumbent to form “Thirupani Committee”. However, without doing so, the respondents are directly collecting the donations, which is contrary to the said Rule 53 of the Act.

Hence, this petition.

4. In reply, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents had strongly opposed the submissions made by the petitioner and would submit that as per Rule 53 of the Rules, it is mandatory to form a “Thirupani Committee” only if there is any requirement for donation for the purpose of conducting Kumbavisegam of the Temple. However, in this case, the Kumbavisegam of the subject Temple is going to be conducted out of the Temple funds and not from donations. Hence, the question of formation of “Thirupani Committee” will not at all arise in the present case. He would also submit that if the petitioner is intend to contribute any amount, he is very much welcome to do so and the said amount will be kept in a General Account of the Temple.

5. Further, he pointed out that there is some infighting among the villagers and hence, if the donation is received for Kumbavisegam, a Committee has to be formed, for which all the people will ask for membership and the same would ultimately lead to further infighting. Therefore, in order to provide sufficient protection and to conduct the Kumbavisegam in a peaceful manner, the respondents had rejected the request for formation of committee and decided to utilise the funds available