Madras High Court
WP/2399/2020 of B.S.Venkatraman Vs The Commissioner on 15 October 2026
W.P.No.2399 of 2020
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 15-10-2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE E.MANOHARAN
W.P.No.2399 of 2020
CNR:{HCMA010155712020}
B.S.Venkatraman,
S/o.S.Bhushanam,
No.58/36, Nadu Street,
Mylapore,
Chennai – 600 004.
… Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Commissioner,
HR and CE,
Chennai – 600 034.
2.The Joint Commissioner,
(Thirupani), HR and CE,
Chennai – 600 034.
… Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent to do reconstruction work in the Arulmighu Gopala Pillaiyar Thirukoil, Thiruvannamalai Taluk and District as per the proceedings of the Joint Commissioner, Villupuram, Na.Ka.No.1488/2015/A2, dated 20.03.2015.
For Petitioner:
Mr. K.Sudalai Kannu
For Respondents:
Mr.R.Bharanidharan,
Spl.G.P (HR&CE), for R1 & R2
Page Nos.1/7
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W.P.No.2399 of 2020
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O R D E R
(Order of the Court was made by G.Jayachandran J.) Public Interest Litigation filed by one B.S.Venkatraman, drawing the attention of this Court regarding the proposed Kumbhabhishekam of Arulmighu Gopala Pillaiyar Thirukoil, situated at Thiruvannamalai.
2. Pointing out that the decision to perform the Kumbhabhishekam after lapse of 24 years was not unilaterally taken by the HR&CE Department, without consulting the local devotees and without restoring the damages caused to the Temple Gopuram Kalasam. Though the devotees are ready to contribute for the renovation of the Temple and Kumbhabhishekam and to take necessary steps to prevent rainwater from entering the temple premises due to the raising of the road level by four feet, the Department failed to take any steps.
3. After much persuasion by the petitioner, an inspection was conducted in the year 2014, after the District Level Heritage Committee suggesting raising the temple structure at the costs of Rs.15,00,000/- to prevent rainwater entering the temple premises. However, the said proposal was not carried by the Department. Therefore, without carrying out necessary repair work to the Temple Gopuram Kalasam and taken steps to prevent rainwater entering the Page Nos.2/7
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W.P.No.2399 of 2020 Temple premises, the HR&CE Department should not proceed with the proposed Kumbhabhishekam.
4. The Executive Officer of the Temple has filed report, wherein it is stated by the learned Special Government Pleader that the HR&CE Department, on receiving the inspection report of the District Level Heritage Committee, suggesting raising of the Temple structure above the road level, the Department sought the opinion of the State Level Heritage Committee. The State Level Heritage Committee suggested that since the Temple is more than 100 years old but being a concrete structure, raising of the structure might not be feasible. Hence, alternate suggestions given by the State Level Heritage Committee to put stone slabs at the entrance to prevent rainwater from entering the Temple premises been considered and same has been constructed besides constructing a compound wall on the southern side. Hence, after rainwater connected to the stormwater drainage and no incident of rainwater entering the temple premises been reported for the past three years. The report is also filed.
5. It is further stated that the Kumbhabhishekam of the temple been conducted on 27.01.2023 after restoring the Temple Gopuram Kalasam. Photographs of the renovated structure been annexed to the report which indicates steps been taken by the HR&CE Department to prevent rainwater from Page Nos.3/7
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W.P.No.2399 of 2020 entering the temple premises.
6. The Learned Special Government Pleader for the HR&CE Department submitted that, after carried out necessary steps, there is no incident of rainwater entering the temple premises, for the past three years. It is further stated that the petitioner is no more and his son sent a letter to the Registry that the object of the Writ Petition already been substantially complied and therefore, he is no interested in pursuing the Writ Petition.
7. Insofar as this Writ Petition is concerned, the status report indicates that the HR&CE Department has taken necessary steps to prevent rainwater from entering Arulmighu Gopala Pillaiyar Thirukoil, Thiruvannamalai but we are abreast of the fact that many ancient temples, due to various reasons, including the raising of road levels, face similar difficulties of being inundated by rainwater during the rainy season.
8. In view of the above, we hope that the HR&CE Department will take necessary action for preventing the rainwater and sewage from entering temple premises, particularly during the rainy season. Page Nos.4/7
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W.P.No.2399 of 2020
10. With the above observations, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. (Dr. G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.) & (E.MANOHARAN, J.) 15-10-2026 Index :Yes/No. Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation :Yes/No. bsm Page Nos.5/7
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W.P.No.2399 of 2020 To,
1. The Commissioner, HR and CE, Chennai – 600 034.
2. The Joint Commissioner, (Thirupani), HR and CE, Chennai – 600 034. Page Nos.6/7
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W.P.No.2399 of 2020 Dr. G.JAYACHANDRAN, J. AND E.MANOHARAN, J. bsm W.P.No.2399 of 2020
15-10-2026 Page Nos.7/7
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