IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 16.03.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.Nos.10210 and 10211 of 2026 K.Senthilkumar ... Petitioner Vs.

1 The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai – 600 034.

2 The Joint Commissioner Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Thiruvannamalai.

3 The Assistant Commissioner Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Thiruvannamalai.

4 The Executive Officer Arulmigu Pachaiamman Temple - Arulmigu Mannarasamy Temple, Thiruvannamalai. ... Respondents Prayer:

Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records of the fourth respondent pertaining to impugned Explanation-cum-Order dated 11.02.2026 and quash the same and consequently direct the fourth respondents to permit the petitioner to perform poojas in Arulmighu Sri Pachaimman Koil-Sri Mannarsamy Thiru Koil.

For Petitioner : Mr.V.Chandrasekaran for M/s.M.Selvam For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader (H.R.& C.E.)

O R D E R

The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records of the fourth respondent pertaining to Explanation-cum-Order dated 11.02.2026 and quash the same and consequently direct the fourth respondent to permit the petitioner to perform poojas in Arulmighu Sri Pachaimman Koil-Sri Mannarsamy Thiru Koil.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is the resident of Thiruvannamalai. Arulmighu Sri Pachaimman Koil-Sri Mannarsamy Thiru Koil was constructed more than 300 years ago by five families namely, Mannu Pillai; Gurusamy Pillai; Subburaya Pillai; Mannu Pillai, Srinivasa Pillai & Rajan Pillai; and Uthandi Pillai & Chinna Uthandi Pillai out of their own funds and the members of the five families are known as Poojaris, Mirassu Poojaris and Agamudaiya Mudaliars. The said Uthandi Pillai & Chinna Uthandi Pillai are the ancestors of the petitioner and the petitioner’s father being the hereditary trustee was doing the poojas and rituals in the Temple and after his demise on 18.03.2023, the petitioner became the hereditary trustee and was performing the poojas and rituals in the Temple. Whileso, the fourth respondent issued show cause notice dated 10.05.2025 to the petitioner and thereafter, the fourth respondent completely restrained the petitioner and others from performing poojas in the Temple, pursuant to which, the petitioner and others sought for written statement of reason for now allowing them to perform poojas in the said Temple, pursuant to which, the fourth respondent issued the Explanation-cum-Order dated 11.02.2026 directing to handover the Gold, Silver and other articles.

3.The learned Additional Government Pleader (H.R.& C.E.)

appearing for the respondents submitted that without interfering with the impugned Explanation-cum-Order, the petitioner may be directed to deposit a sum of Rs.5 Lakhs in the name of Arulmighu Sri Pachaimman Koil-Sri Mannarsamy Thiru Koil and issue direction to the respondents to conduct enquiry with regard to the Gold, Silver and other articles and amount payable by the petitioner to the said Temple by furnishing necessary documents to the petitioner, after the petitioner deposits the said amount.

4.At this juncture, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is ready to deposit a sum of Rs.5 Lakhs in the name of Arulmighu Sri Pachaimman Koil-Sri Mannarsamy Thiru Koil and further submitted that after deposit of the said amount, the petitioner may be permitted to perform pooja as per the existing practice and further submitted that this Court may issue direction to the respondents to issue show cause notice to the petitioner for conducting enquiry with regard to the Gold, Silver and other articles and amount payable by the petitioner to the said Templ