Madras High Court
K.Sathishkumar vs The District Collector on 1 August, 2025
Author: N.Anand Venkatesh
Bench: N. Anand Venkatesh
1/7 WP No. 28507 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 01-08-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH
WP No. 28507 of 2025
K.Sathishkumar
Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The District Collector
Salem Collector Office, Salem-636 001.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer
Revenue Divisional Office, Mettur,
Salem-636 401.
3.The Tahsildar
Omalur Taluk Office, Salem-636 455.
4.The Assistant Commissioner
O/o.The Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowments (HR & CE)
Department, Salem-636 002.
5.The Executive Officer
O/o.The Hindu Religious And
Charitable Endoments (HR & CE)
Department, Tharamangala,
Salem-636 502.
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6.C.Subramani
7.M.Murugan
8.G.Rajagopal
9.P.Murugesan
10.S.Embi
11.K.Periyasamy
Respondent(s)
PRAYER Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for
issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, a)to direct the respondents 1 to 5 to conduct
enquiry based on the petitioner's complaint dated 10.03.2025 to take action
against the respondent 6 to 11 for defrauding the villagers to the tune of more
than Rs.65,00,000/- (Rupees Sixty Five Lakhs only) b)to direct the respondents
1 to 5 to take appropriate steps to form a festival committee / trust/ temple
management committee for all festivals to be held in the future and maintain
proper receipts for the budgets.
For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.Ramadoss
For Respondent(s): Mr.T.M.Rajangam
Government Advocate
for R1 to R3
Mr.K.Karthikeyan
Government Advocate for R4
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3/7 WP No. 28507 of 2025
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed for issue of writ of mandamus directing the HR & CE Department to conduct an enquiry based on the complaint given by the petitioner on 10.03.2025, wherein, the petitioner is seeking for taking action against respondents 6 to 11 for defrauding the villagers and misappropriating a sum of Rs.65 Lakhs in the name of collection during Kumbabishegam.
2.The learned Government Advocate submitted the written instructions received from the Executive Officer of the temple. The relevant portions are extracted hereunder:
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3.It is clear from the above that an Executive Officer has already been appointed for the temple. But however, he has not been allowed to perform his function. The specific grievance of the petitioner is that the private respondents had misappropriated money which was collected from the villagers in the guise of conducting Kumbabishegam. The Collection of Income and the Incurring of Expenditure Rules deals with the action to be taken for prevention of improper collection under Rule 5A. In view of the same, there shall be a direction to the 4th respondent to act upon the complaint given by the petitioner and conduct an enquiry and proceed further in accordance with law.
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4.This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No Costs.
01-08-2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No ssr https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 06/08/2025 02:35:31 pm ) 6/7 WP No. 28507 of 2025 To
1. The District Collector Salem Collector Office, Salem-636 001.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer Revenue Divisional Office, Mettur, Salem-636 401.
3.The Tahsildar Omalur Taluk Office, Salem-636 455.
4.The Assistant Commissioner O/o.The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department, Salem-636 002.
5.The Executive Officer O/o.The Hindu Religious And Charitable Endoments (HR & CE) Department, Tharamangala, Salem-636 502.
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ssr WP No. 28507 of 2025 01-08-2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 06/08/2025 02:35:31 pm )