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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 30348
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J
Arulmigu Pidari Sri Anaiyalathamman Sangilikaruppu Temple, Through its Hereditary Trustee, R.Meenakshisundari – Appellant
Versus
The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department – Respondent
W.P(MD)No.10240 of 2026|W.M.P(MD)No.8044 of 2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.S.Mahalakshmi
For the Respondents: Mr.M.Sarangan Additional Government Pleader, Mr.K.Gokul
Interim relief granted pending appeal on trusteeship; hundial operation suspended to preserve temple status quo.
Headnote:The petitioner, claiming hereditary trusteeship rights under Section 63(b) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, sought mandamus to administer the temple, conduct rituals, and suspend operation of an allegedly illegal hundial pending appeal before the Commissioner, HR&CE. Earlier proceedings in W.P.(MD)No.3981 of 2020 directed status quo, but the application was dismissed, leading to the appeal being returned as time-barred. Court noted potential change in temple's nature due to public offerings via hundial. Issue framed: Whether interim relief should be granted pending appeal determination of trusteeship rights. Ratio: Appeal merits expeditious disposal; hundial installation does not affect rights but cannot be opened until final order; petitioner entitled to festival participation without special honours; eviction proceedings to continue independently. Appeal to be re-presented within two weeks, treated as filed in time, and disposed within five months; hundial operation suspended till then; no costs.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. petitioner's claim for temple administration pending appeal. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. appeal returned as time-barred; third party submissions. (Para 3 , 4) |
| 3. interim orders on appeal re-presentation and hundial suspension. (Para 5) |
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated: 09.04.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY W.P(MD)No.10240 of 2026 and W.M.P(MD)No.8044 of 2026 Arulmigu Pidari Sri Anaiyalathamman Sangilikaruppu Temple, Through its Hereditary Trustee, R.Meenakshisundari Daughter of K.S.Rajashanmughavel Compound of the Kamatchi Amman Temple Koothur Village, Pitchandar Koil, Manachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirapalli District, Residing at: No.1/148, Kudi Street, Koothoor Village, Pitchandar Koil Post, Manachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirapalli District. ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Nilagirishwarar Thopu Teppakulam Street, Tiruvanaikoil Trichy-620 005.
2.The Executive Officer, Uthamarkoil Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.1, Tolgate Trichy-621 216.
3.B.Kannan (R3 is suo motu impleaded vide order dated 09.04.2026) ...Respondents Writ Petition is filed under article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to administer the temple and to conduct all poojas and customary rituals including the temple festival and further direct the respondents to remove or keep in abeyance the operation of the illegally installed Hundial in the premises of Arulmigu Pidari Sri Anailyalathamman Sangilikaruppu Temple, which is situated within the compound of Kamatchi Amman Temple, Koothur Village, Pitchandar Koil, Manachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirapalli District, pending disposal of the statutory appeal before the Commissioner, HR&CE.
For Petitioner :Mr.S.Mahalakshmi For R1 & R2 :Mr.M.Sarangan Additional Government Pleader For R3 :Mr.K.Gokul
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed for a mandamus permitting the petitioner to administer the temple and to conduct all poojas and customary rituals including the temple festival and further direct the respondents to remove or keep in abeyance the operation of the illegally installed Hundial in the premises of Arulmigu Pidari, Sri Anailyalathamman Sangilikaruppu Temple, which is situated within the compound of Kamatchi Amman Temple, Koothur Village, Pitchandar Koil, Manachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirapalli District, pending disposal of these statutory appeal before the Commissioner.
2.Upon hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and perusing the material records of the case, it can be seen that the petitioner is claiming to be the hereditary trustee having certain exclusive rights even with reference to the temple. Earlier when the petitioner filed W.P(MD)No.3981 of 2020, by an order dated 10.10.2022, this court directed the application filed by the petitioner under Section 63(b) of the Act and Status quo as on that date be maintained till the decision. Subsequently, it is seen that the said application ultimately came to be dismissed and the petitioner has now filed an appeal before the Commissioner, HR&CE.
3.It is stated by the learned Additional Government Pleader that the appeal was returned since it was beyond the period of limitation.
4.The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the third respondent would submit that he is also party in the Section 63 proceedings and he is not impleaded in the present writ petition.
5.Upon considering the submissions made by the learned counsel that the appeal has to be decided to determine the rights of the petitioner and in the meanwhile, if public offerings are made in the Hundial, the entire nature of the temple itself would be deemed to be changed, I am of the view that the relief can be granted to the parties in the following manner:
(i)Within two weeks from the date of receipt of the web copy of the order, the petitioner shall re-present the appeal.
(ii)Upon re-presentatio
