Madras High Court
WP(MD)/30925/2026 of Moorthi Vs The Commissioner on 28 October 2026
WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 28-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY
WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011542432026}
and
WMP(MD) Nos.23706, 23708, 23710 & 23711 of 2026
Moorthi,
No.457, T.Athikarai,
Shakudi, Tiruppuvanam Taluk,
Sivagangai District - 625020.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowments Department,
Nungambakkam High Road,
Chennai - 600 034.
2. The District Collector,
3. The Joint Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowments Department,
Joint Commissioner's Office, Sivagangai.
4. The Assistant Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowments Department, Sivagangai.
5. Muthuraman,
T.Athikarai, Shakudi, Tiruppuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai District – 625020.
6. Pitchai,
Door No.494, Sokkaiyampatti,
Yenaathi Group, Thiruppuvanam Taluk,
Sivagangai District.
__________
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WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order passed by the fourth respondent in Na.Ka.No.3017/2026/A6 dated 23.10.2026, quash the same and consequently direct the first to fourth respondents to permit the petitioner to discharge his duties as Poosari during the forthcoming Mulappari festival scheduled to be held from 28.10.2026 to 03.11.2026 of Sri Varasithi Vinayagar Temple, Athikarai Village, in accordance with law.
For Petitioner
: Mr.K.Navaneetharaja
For R1 to R4
: Mr.P.Pethu Rajesh
Additional Government Pleader
For R5 & R6
: Mr.K.K.Mahesh Raja
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ORDER
An order of the Assistant Commissioner, the fourth respondent herein, concluding that the petitioner should not conduct poojas at the Sri Varasithi Vinayagar Temple, Athikarai Village, during the Mulappari Festival scheduled from 28.10.2026 to 03.11.2026, is challenged in this Writ Petition.
2. Relying on certificates issued by the Village Administrative Officer and the Inspector of the H.R. & C.E. Department to the effect that the __________
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WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026 petitioner has acted as a poojari for the last 12 years, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is no basis to deny the petitioner the right to carry out poojas at the temple.
3. Responding to these submissions, Mr.P.Pethu Rajesh, learned Additional Government Pleader, who accepts notice on behalf of first to fourth respondents, submits that the petitioner is conflating the conduct of regular poojas with the conduct of poojas during the Mulappari Festival. As regards regular poojas, he acknowledges that the petitioner has been recognised as the poojari. With regard to the Mulappari Festival, however, he submits that a decision was taken that only the poojari from the Pandaram community shall conduct the poojas relating to the festival after taking into account the report of the Village Administrative Officer.
4. Learned counsel for the fifth and sixth respondents submits that the status of the petitioner as a poojari is being questioned and that the petitioner has obtained an identity card without the consent or knowledge of the villagers.
5. In response to the question as to the time during which poojas relating to the Mulappari Festival would be conducted, learned Additional __________
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WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026 Government Pleader for the first to fourth respondents submits that said poojas would be conducted between 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on 04.11.2026. Considering the fact that the petitioner is currently recognised as the poojari both by the Village Administrative Officer and the H.R. & C.E. Department, the petitioner shall be permitted to conduct regular poojas at any time other than between 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on 04.11.2026.
6. With this direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of by leaving it open to the rival parties to seek remedies in respect of their rights in relation to the temple in accordance with law. Neither private party shall restrain villagers intending to participate in the festival from doing so. Any person intending to place any offerings at the temple may do so and shall not be restrained. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 28-10-2026 Index: No Speaking Neutral Citation: No JEN Note : Issue order copy on 28.10.2026 To
1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai - 600 034. __________
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WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026
2. The District Collector, Sivagangai District.
3. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Joint Commissioner's Office, Sivagangai.
4. The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Sivagangai. __________
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WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026 SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY, J. JEN WP(MD) No. 30925 of 2026 28-10-2026 __________
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