Madras High Court
A.Balasubramanian vs The District Collector on 3 June, 2025
Author: N.Anand Venkatesh
Bench: N. Anand Venkatesh
WP No. 19786 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 03-06-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH
WP No. 19786 of 2025
A.Balasubramanian
S/o. Mr. P. Annavi, Pothanur,
Paramathi Velur Taluk,
Namakkal District-638181.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The District Collector
Office of The District Collector,
Namakkal, Namakkal District-637003.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer
Office of the District Revenue Officer,
Thiruchengode,
Namakkal District-637211.
3.The Tahsildar
Paramathi Velur Taluk Office,
Paramathi Velur,
Namakkal District-638182.
4.The Superintendent of Police
Office of the Superintendent of Police,
1/10
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm )
WP No. 19786 of 2025
Namakkal, Namakkal District-637 003.
5.The Deputy Superintendent of Police
Office of the Deputy Superintendent of
Police, Paramathi Velur,
Namakkal District-638182.
6.The Inspector of Police
Paramathi Velur Police Station,
Paramathi Velur,
Namakkal District-638182.
7.The Joint Commissioner
Office of the Joint Commissioner,
Hindu Religious Charitable
Endowments Department,
Kottai Mariamman Temple Complex,
Salem-636001.
8.The Assistant Commissioner
Office of the Assistant Commissioner,
Hindu Religious Charitable
Endowments Department,
Ellandi Amman Temple Street,
Namakkal -637001.
9.The Executive Officer
The Hindu Religious Charitable
Endowments Department,
A/m. Vella Kal Mariamman Temple,
Devarayasamuthiram Village,
Pothanur,
2/10
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm )
WP No. 19786 of 2025
At Prasanna Venkatasamy Temple,
Pandamangalam, Paramathi Velur
Taluk, Namakkal District-637208.
10.MANI
S/o. Late Periasamy, Pothanur,
Paramathi Velur Taluk,
Namakkal District-638181.
Respondent(s)
PRAYER
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to direct the
respondents 1 to 9 to adhere to the long - standing customary practice followed
until the year 2018 in recognizing the representative of Mutharaiyar (Muthuraja)
Community in Temple Festival Peace Committee and other Committees and
meetings concerning the affairs of the Vellakkal Mariamman Temple in
Devarayasamuthiram, Pothanur, Paramathi Velur Taluk, Namakkal District.
For Petitioner(s): M/s.S.S.Sivakumar
K. Mahendran
V. Praveen
For Respondent: Mr.G.Velu (for R1 to R3)
Additional Government Pleader
Mr.Leonard Arul Selvam
Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for
R4, R5 and R6
Mr.S.Ravichandran (for R7 to R9)
Additional Government Pleader
3/10
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm )
WP No. 19786 of 2025
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed for the issue of writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 9 to recognize the petitioner as the representative of Mutharaiyar Community (also called Muthuraja Community) in all the committee meetings concerning the affairs of the Arulmighu Vellakkal Mariammal temple.
2. Heard Mr.S.S.Sivakumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.G.Velu, learned Additional Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 3 and Mr.Leonard Arul Selvam, learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for respondents 4,5 and 6 Mr.S.Ravichandran, learned Additional Government Pleader for respondents 7 to 9.
3. The case of the petitioner is that there is a long standing customary practice which was followed till the year 2018 recognising the representative of the community. However, all of a sudden, the HR&CE department is now th recognising the 10 respondent as the representative. This was objected by the petitioner and a representation was given. Since the same was not considered, the present writ petition has been filed before this Court.
4/10https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm ) WP No. 19786 of 2025
4. When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the HR&CE Department produced the written instructions received from the 9th respondent. For proper appreciation, the relevant portions are extracted hereunder :-
ehkf;fy; khtl;lk; gukj;jp nyYhu; tl;lk;. bghj;jDhu; khupak;kd; gftjpak;kd;
jpUf;nfhapy; ,e;J rka mwepiyj;Jiwapd; fl;Lg;ghl;oYs;s rl;lg;gpupt[ 49 (i) fPH; tifg;gLj;jg;gl;l gl;oaiy rhuhj ehkf;fy; cjtp Msiff;Fl;gl;l jpUf;nfhapyhFk;/ ,j;jpUf;nfhapy; epu;thfk; gukj;jp ntYhu; ruf Ma;thsuhy; jf;fhu; epiyapYk;. ghz;lk';fyk;. mUs;kpF gpurd;d bt';fl;ukzrthkp jpUf;nfhapy; bray; mYtyuhy; bray; mYtyu; epiyapYk; ftdpf;fg;gl;L tUfpwJ. ,j;jpUf;nfhapy; bghj;jDhh; tUtha; fpuhkj;jpy; muR g[wk;nghf;fpy; g[y vz; 190 y; tp!;jPuzk; 0/11/00 bcwf;Vu;!; gug;gstpy; mike;Js;sJ/ ,j;jpUf;nfhapypy; xt;bthU tUlKk; g';Fdp khjk; filrp "hapw;Wf;fpHik fk;gk; elg;gl;L 21 ehl;fs; jpUtpHh elj;JtJ tHf;fk;/ ,j;jpUf;nfhapy; jpUtpHhtpy; midj;J rKjhaj;jpdu; fye;J bfhs;fpwhh;fs;/ ,Ug;gpDk; ,j;jpUf;nfhapypy; fle;j fhy';fspy; ,UntW jug;gpdupilna Vw;gl;l fUj;J ntWghL fhuzkhf jpUtpHh bjhlu;e;J eilbgWtjpy; rpf;fy; Vw;gl;L jpUtpHhf;fs; bjhlh;e;J eilbgwhj R{H;epiy epytp te;jjJ/ ,e;epiyapy; njtuha rKj;jpuk; fpuhkj;ij rhu;e;j jpU rpj;jhu;j;jd; vd;gtuhy; khz;gik brd;id cau; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; bjhlug;gl;l upl; kD vz; 23057/2019 y; jpUtpHhtpy; rl;lk; XG';F gpur;rid Vw;glhky; RK:fkhd Kiwapy; jpUtpHh elj;JtJ 5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm ) WP No. 19786 of 2025 bjhlu;ghf gpwg;gpf;fg;gl;l cj;jutpd; go jpUr;br';nfhL tUtha; nfhl;lhr;rpaupd; K:
K 2928- 2019-rp ehs; 30/10/2019 d; go ,j;jpUtpHhtpy; rl;lk; xG';F gpur;rid Vw;glhky; midj;J rK:fj;jpdiuf;bfhz;L jpUtpHh elj;Jtjw;F cj;jputplg;gl;oUe;jJ mjd;gona tUtha;j; Jiw kw;Wk; fhty; Jiwapduhy; ,e;J rka mwepiyaj;Jiw ntz;L nfhSf;fpz';f mikg;ngr;R thu;j;ij Tl;lk; elj;jp jpUtpHhit RK:fkhd Kiwapy; elj;Jtjw;f;fhf ,f;fpuhkj;ij nru;e;j gy;ntW RK:jhaj;jpdu; nru;e;jtu;fSf;F miHg;ghid tpLf;fg;gl;lnj jtpu ve;jbthU rK:jhaj;jpdiu nru;e;jtu;fisa[k; fhupafhuu;fshf ,j;jpUf;nfhapYf;bfd Jiw uPjpahf m';fPfupf;fg;gltpy;iy Mifahy; kDjhuu; nkw;go jpUf;nfhapypd; mwepiyaj;Jiw rl;lg;gpupt[ 63 , kw;Wk; o d; kD tpz;zg;gpj;J go gupfhuk; njof;bfhs;s ntz;oaJ vd gzpe;J bjuptpj;Jg;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/
5. It is clear from the above that the department has not recognized any one to be the representative of the community. Therefore, the grievance expressed by the petitioner as if the 10th respondent has been recognized as the representation of the community has been sufficiently answered by the department. If any one claims to be the representative of the community to participate in the affairs of the temple, an appropriate petition must be filed under Section 63(d) or 63 (e) of the HR&CE Act and they must establish their right. As of now, no one is recognised as the representative of the community. In view of the same, if at all the petitioner wants such recognition, necessary petition must be filed before the Joint Commissioner in this regard, who is the 7th respondent.
6/10https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm ) WP No. 19786 of 2025
6. This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No costs.
03-06-2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No rka 7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm ) WP No. 19786 of 2025 To
1. The District Collector Office of The District Collector, Namakkal, Namakkal District-637003.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer Office of the District Revenue Officer, Thiruchengode, Namakkal District-637211.
3.The Tahsildar Paramathi Velur Taluk Office, Paramathi Velur, Namakkal District-638182.
4.The Superintendent of Police Office of the Superintendent of Police, Namakkal, Namakkal District-637 003.
5.The Deputy Superintendent of Police Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Paramathi Velur, Namakkal District-638182.
6.The Inspector of Police Paramathi Velur Police Station, Paramathi Velur, Namakkal District-638182.
7.The Joint Commissioner Office of the Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious Charitable 8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm ) WP No. 19786 of 2025 Endowments Department, Kottai Mariamman Temple Complex, Salem-636001.
8.The Assistant Commissioner Office of the Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments Department, Ellandi Amman Temple Street, Namakkal -637001.
9.The Executive Officer The Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments Department, A/m. Vella Kal Mariamman Temple, Devarayasamuthiram Village, Pothanur, At Prasanna Venkatasamy Temple, Pandamangalam, Paramathi Velur Taluk, Namakkal District-637208.
10.MANI S/o. Late Periasamy, Pothanur, Paramathi Velur Taluk, Namakkal District-638181.
9/10https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm ) WP No. 19786 of 2025 N.ANAND VENKATESH J.
rka WP No. 19786 of 2025 Dated: 03-06-2025 10/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 09/06/2025 02:26:41 pm )