BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Date : 17/02/2026 CORAM The Hon`ble Mr.Justice KRISHNAN RAMASAMY WP(MD). No.4303 of 2026 Chellamanickam ... Petitioner Vs

1. The Principal Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Secretariat, For St.George, Chennai-600 009.

2. The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai..

3. The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Thiruppathur, Sivagangai District.. ... Respondents PRAYER :-Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order in Na.Ka.A4/749/2025 dated 09.07.2025 passed by the 3^rd respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently to direct the 3^rd respondent to issue No Cast, No Religion Certificate in favour of the petitioner.

For Petitioner : Mr.P.Surendran For Respondents : Mrs.S.Jeyapriya Government Advocate

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned order of the third respondent dated 09.07.2025 and for a direction to the 3^rd respondent to issue No Cast, No Religion Certificate in favour of the petitioner.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents. By consent of both sides, the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner's parents belong to Hindu Religion and the petitioner seeks a certificate from the third respondent neither mentioning caste nor religion, ie., no caste no religion certificate. However, the said request of the petitioner has been turned down by the order of the third respondent for want of Government order in this regard.

4. The learned Government Advocate for the respondents would submit that there is no Government Order for providing no caste no religion certificate and when there is no Government order, the petitioner's request has been rightly rejected by the third respondent and hence, it does not warrant any interference.

5. I have considered the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record.

6. When this Court posed a question to the petitioner as to when the petitioner's parents belong to Hindu Religion and the petitioner belongs to Hindu Religion, whether the petitioner has relinquished his Hindu Religion, the answer is in negative. Unless and until, the petitioner has relinquished his religion as per the Hindu Rites, the petitioner's request could not be considered by the respondents. When such being the position, the issuance of such certificate does not arise. It is also to be noted that the petitioner has not filed any proof for such relinquishment. When there is no proof to that extent is filed, this Court is not inclined to set aside the impugned order and issue a direction as prayed for. Accordingly, the writ petition stands dismissed. However, it is open to the petitioner to press for relinquishment of his religion, since he is a Hindu as on date and his parents are also Hindus and produce proof for such relinquishment before the respondents. If necessary application is made by the petitioner, thereafter with proof for relinquishment of the religion, the same may be considered in accordance with the rule, if any framed otherwise frame the necessary Rule and consider the application thereafter. No costs.

17.02.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No RR To

1. The Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Secretariat, For St.George, Chennai-600 009.

2. The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai..

3. The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Thiruppathur, Sivagangai District..

KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J RR

ORDER

IN WP(MD) No.4303 of 2026 Date : 17/02/2026