IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 11-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI AND WMP NO. 11967 OF 2023 Thirunavukkarasu No.08, Mela Street, Ayyampettai, Kancheepuram District.

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Commissioner Hindu REligious and Charitable Endowment Department, No.119, Uthmar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-34.

2. The Joint Commisioner Hindu REligious and Charitable Endowment Department, Sathuvatchari, Vellore-9

3. the joint commissioner Hindu REligious and Charitable Endowment Department, A.K.Thangavelar street, little kancheepuram, kancheepuram-631 501.

4. the inspector Hindu REligious and Charitable Endowment Department, walajabad, Kancheepuram district.

5. S.Dhanpal s/o.Shanmugavel, no.206, mela street, ayyampettai walajabad taluk, kancheepuram-631 601.

6. M.Shanthanam s/o.Murugasamy, no.205, mela street, Ayyampettai, Walajabad taluk, Kancheepuram-631 601.

7. L.Subramani s/o.Lakshmanann, No.69A, mela street, Ayyampettai, Walajabad taluk, Kancheepuram-631 601.

..Respondent(s)

Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records of the 1st respondent by its proceedings No.R.P. No.520 / 2022 D2 dated 20.03.2023 and quash the same and allowing the revision filed by the petitioner in R.P. No.520/ 2022 and further directing the 3rd respondent to appoint fresh trustee as per law in a transparent manner from and out of person who were belongs to Sengntha Mudaliyar community who were residing at Mela Street, Ayyampettai, Kancheepuram District to the Arulmighu Kailasanathar and Santhaveli Amman Thirukoil, Ayyampet For Petitioner(s): Mr.V.Manoharan For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Ravichandran, Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R4 No appearance for R5 to R7

Order

The writ petition is filed challenging the order of the 1^st respondent dated 20.03.2023, wherein, the petitioner’s revision petition against the appointment of respondents 5 to 7, was dismissed.

2. According to the petitioner, Arulmighu Kailasanathar & Sandaveli Amman Thirukoil, is a temple under the control of HR & CE Department, the 2nd respondent herein and the department has not appointed the trustees as per the procedure, but simply nominated some persons of their choice as trustees. Since, the respondents have not appointed the trustees, one Chidambaram has filed WP.No.30378 of 2017, whereby a direction was given to appoint trustees to the temple. Thereafter, the 3^rd respondent had passed an order dated 25.07.2022, appointing the respondents 5 to 7 as trustees. Challenging the order of the 3^rd respondent, the petitioner has filed W.P.No.22358/2022. The said writ petition was dismissed by this Court, granting liberty to the petitioner to file a revision petition. The petitioner has also preferred a revision before the 1^st respondent. Since the said revision petition was dismissed by the 1^st respondent vide the impugned order, the petitioner is constrained to move this writ petition.

3. When the matter is taken up for hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the appointment of trustees itself is only for a period of two years from the date of appointment and the same expired in the year 2024 itself. Hence liberty may be given to the petitioner to file a petition before the appropriate authority for appointment of trustees.

4. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent has no objection for the said order being passed.

5. Since the period of appointment as trustees itself got expired during the year 2024, the 1^st respondent has to appoint new trustees for the said temple. Hence, this Court issues a direction to the official respondents to appoint new trustees in accordance with law and as per the scheme decree in a transparent manner. The petitioner is also given liberty to file petition in accordance with law.

6. This Writ Petition stands dismissed with the above observations. No costs. Consequently connected