Ayyakkannu v. The Principal Secretary

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 24.11.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.22755, 22756, 22757, 22769, 22770, 22772 & 22774 of 2025

1.Ayyakannu

2.N.E.Dhandapani

3.Baladhandayudhapani

4.Thirunavukkarasu

5.Jayakumar

6.Santhalingam ... Petitioners in both W.Ps. Vs.

1.The Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture & Religious Endowments, Secretariat, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Chennai.

3.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Thanjavur.

4.The Executive Officer, Arulmighu Kandeswaraswamy Thirukovil, Thamarangkottai, Pattukottai Taluk, Thanjavur District. ... Respondents 1 to 4 in both W.Ps.

5.C.Murugappan ... 5th Respondent in W.P.(MD)No.29439 of 2025

6.V.Raja Ramalingam ... 5th Respondent in W.P.(MD)No.29440 of 2025 Prayer in W.P.(MD)No.29439 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings of the 4th Respondent dated 27.06.2023 issuing an order for donor work to the 5th Respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the Respondents 1 to 4 to constitute a Thiruppani Committee consisting of all the 4 karaikars and with equal representation from Sendha Vellalar Karai for carrying out the Consecration Ceremony of Sri Kandeshwarar Temple, Thamarankottai, Pattukottai Taluk, Pattukottai District, and connected activities and to take action under Rule 5 A of the Collection of Income and the incurring Expenditure Rules to recover the money improperly collected by the fifth respondent and other private individuals and quash the same. Prayer in W.P.(MD)No.29440 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the Impugned proceedings of the 4th Respondent dated

27.06.2023 issuing order for donor work to the 5th Respondent and quash the same. For Petitioners : Mr.N.Dilipkumar For Respondents : Mr.R.Baskaran Additional Advocate General (in both W.Ps) assisted by Mr.G.Suirya Anath Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3 : Mr.V.Chandrasekar for R4 : Mr.A.V.Saha

for R5

COMMON ORDER Heard both sides.

¶2The case on hand pertains to conducting Kumbhabisekam of Arulmighu Sreekandeswaram Swami Temple, Thamarangkottai, Pattukkottai Taluk.

¶3The authorities have decided that Kumbhabisekam can be held on

30.11.2025. The petitioners strongly contend that it has to be performed only in the month of Thai. I called upon the executive officer to convene a meeting of the four karaikarars to arrive at consensus. It appears that there cannot be any unanimous decision. An informal voting took place and it appears that 183 persons had taken a stand that Kumbabhisekam has to be held on 30.11.2025, while 115 persons wanted Kumbabhisekam to be held in the month of Thai. There are no judicially manageable standards to decide this issue. I therefore refrain from interfering with the decision of the authorities to have Kumbabhisekam on 30.11.2025. At the same time, certain remarks are called for against the conduct of the fourth respondent Thiru.Murugappan. Murugappan was assigned donor works. The persons who had been given donor work should not collect funds from the general public. But in this case, Murugappan had collected donations from the devotees. This is an unacceptable conduct. That is why, the donor work proceedings issued in his favour were also cancelled subsequently.

¶4Taking into account the improper conduct of Murugappan, the authorities have decided not to assign any role to him when the Kumbabhisekam is conducted. He of-course can participate like any other devotee. The executive officer will conduct Kumbabhisekam in the same manner as was conducted in the year 2010. In other words, all the four karaikarars must be associated with. Their names must be printed in the invitation card. Sangalpam must be taken in their names.

¶5The Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

24.11.2025 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No rmi NOTE:Issue Order Copy on 27.11.2025 To

1.The Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture & Religious Endowments, Secretariat, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Chennai.

3.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Thanjavur.

4.The Executive Officer, Arulmighu Kandeswaraswamy Thirukovil, Thamarangkottai, Pattukottai Taluk, Thanjavur District.

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J. rmi

24.11.2025