Madras High Court
WP(MD)/5567/2026 of S.Baskar Vs The Commissioner on 27 October 2026
WP(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 27-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR
RAMAMOORTHY
WP(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011964282025}
S.Baskar
S/o.Subramaniyapillai,
President,
Sidhi Vinayagar Bairav Amman,
Mutharamman Temple and Eraniel,
West Street, Chetty Community Eraniel,
Kanniyakumari District.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Commissioner
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai.
2. The Joint Commissioner
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tirunelveli.
3. The Assistant Commissioner
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st Respondent herein to remove our temple namely the Siddhi Vinayagar Bairav Amman and Mutharamnan Temple Eraniel from the list of public
WP(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
temple under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department and thus render justice.
For Petitioner(s):
M/s Sundaravadivel. C
For Respondent(s):
Mr.M.S.Parthiban, Govt. Advocate
For R1 To R3
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ORDER
The question raised in this writ petition is whether the Siddhi Vinayagar Bairav Amman and Mutharamman Temple is a private temple or a temple governed by the HR&CE Act. Relying on proceedings in which the petitioner's contention that it is a private temple was accepted culminating in the judgment dated 16.06.1988 of the Division Bench of this Court in L.P.A. No.67 of 1985, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the temple has not been removed from the list of public temples by the HR&CE Department in spite of these judgments.
2. Learned Government Advocate for the respondents submits that appropriate orders would be passed on the petitioner's representation within a reasonable time.
3. Considering the facts and circumstances and the above submissions, this writ petition is disposed of by directing the third
WP(MD) No. 5567 of 2026 respondent to pass orders on the representation dated 16.07.2023 within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after taking into account the judgments of this Court culminating in order dated 16.06.1988 in L.P.A. No.67 of 1985. The petitioner shall provide copies of the relevant documents in this regard to the third respondent within 15 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 27-10-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No PKN To
1. The Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai.
2. The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tirunelveli.
3. The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,
WP(MD) No. 5567 of 2026 SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY, J. PKN WP(MD) No. 5567 of 2026 27-10-2026