Hindu Dharma Parishad v. The Union of India

ORDER (Judgment of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The prayer in this writ petition is to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 and 2 to instruct the 3rd respondent that the Indian Constitution has been violated by denying Hindu devotees of Lord Murugan to light lamp and conduct worship at the top of the Thiruparankundram hill while such permission is granted to other religion in observance of the Ramjan festival and to take action on the Government Officers who failed to perform their duties properly by initiating disciplinary action against the respondents 7 to 10 for violating the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 23.03.2026.

¶2On perusal of the affidavit, we are of the view that this type of writ petition is nothing but publicity oriented and with regard to the issue of lighting the lamp at the top of the Thirupparankundram hill, the Division Bench of this Court has already issued series of directions in WA(MD)No.3188 of 2025 etc batch, dated 06.01.2026. Therefore, the petitioner cannot once again file the present public interest litigation on the same cause of action which is nothing but publicity interest litigation.

¶3At this juncture, learned Deputy Solicitor General appearing for the respondents 1, 2 and 7 would submit that the petitioner is in the habit of filing vexatious public interest litigations. He has also produced the order dated 02.02.2022 made in W.P(MD)No.1523 of 2022 which is also a public interest litigation filed by the very same petitioner. In the said writ petition, the Hon'ble First Bench by order dated 02.02.2022 imposed a cost of Rs.10,000/- on the petitioner and also restrained the petitioner from filing any public interest litigation for a period of two years after finding that the public interest litigations filed by the petitioner are only for the sake of publicity and otherwise without proper research.

¶4Thus, while we dismiss this writ petition, we impose a cost of Rs.50,000/- [Rupees Fifty Thousand only] payable to the Legal Services Committee attached to this Bench, within a period of two weeks from today.

¶5Post on 24.04.2026 for reporting compliance. [N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.]

09.04.2026 Index : Yes / No : Yes / No bala To

¶1The Home Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, New Delhi-110001.

¶2The Director (Science), Archaeological Survey of India, Puratattva Bhawan, 6th Floor D-Block, New Delhi-110023.

¶3The Home Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

¶4The Secretary, State of Tamilnadu, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

¶5The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 34.

¶6The Director General of Police, Dr. Radhakrishna Salai, Chennai.

¶7The Archaeological Officer, Department of Archaeology Palace Road, Madurai HO, Madurai-625001.

¶8The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

¶9The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Alagarkoil Road, Madurai.

¶10The Joint Commissioner/ Executive Officer, Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple, Thirupparankundram, Madurai -625005. oN.SATHISHoKUMARoo,oJo. AND M.JOTHIRAMAN,oJ. bala ORDERoMADEoIN W.P(MD)No.10036oofo2026 oDATEDo:oo09.04.2026o

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 09.04.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN Hindu Dharma Parishad, Rep. by K.K.Ramesh, Managing Trustee, 31, CMR Road, Kamarajar Salai, Madurai - 625 009, Tamil Nadu. ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The Union of India, Rep. by its Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, New Delhi-110001. 2. The Director (Science), Archaeological Survey of India, Puratattva Bhawan, 6th Floor D-Block, New Delhi-110023. 3. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Home Secretary, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009. 4. The State of Tamilnadu, Rep. by its Secretary, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009. 5. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 34. 6. The Director General of Police, Dr. Radhakrishna Salai, Chennai. 7. The Archaeological Officer, Department of Archaeology Palace Road, Madurai HO, Madurai-625001. 8. The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai. 9. The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Alagarkoil Road, Madurai. 10. The Joint Commissioner/ Executive Officer, Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple, Thirupparankundram, Madurai -625005. ... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 and 2 to instruct the 3rd respondent to The Indian Constitution has been violated by denying Hindu devotees of Lord Murugan permission to light lamps and conduct worship top of the Thiruparankundram hill while, at the same time granting such permission to other religious in observance of the Ramadan festival take action on Government Officers who failed to perform their duties properly by initiating disciplinary action against authorized officers regarding the respondents 7 to 10 for violating the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India by considering the petitioner's representation dated 23.03.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.T.R.Subramanian For R1, R2 & R7 : Mr.K.Govindarajan Deputy Solicitor General of India For R3 to R5 & R8 : Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader For R6 & R9 : Mr.J.Ravindran Additional Advocate General, assisted by Mr.K.Sanjay Gandhi Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For R10 : Mr.V.Chandrasekar, Standing Counsel