Arulmighu Mutheeswarar Thirukoil vs The Secretary to Government

Court
Madras High Court

W.A.No.3133 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 16.10.2026
CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,
CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN
W.A.No.3133 of 2026
CNR:{HCMA011602852026}
Arulmighu Mutheeswarar Thirukoil
Vannargal Samuthaya Sangam,
Reg.No.138/2013
represented by its Treasurer,
Chandrasekaran, S/o Kuppan,
At No.10, Bavapettai Street,
Kanchipuram,
Kanchipuram District
Appellant(s)
Vs
1. The Secretary to Government
Tourism, Culture and Religious
Endowment Department,
Secretariat, Chennai- 600 009.
2. The Commissioner HR & CE Department,
No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai,
Nungambakkam,
Chennai- 600 034.
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W.A.No.3133 of 2026
3. The Joint Commissioner,
HR & CE Department,
No.11/20, A.K.Thangavelar Street,
Chinna Kancheepuram- 631 501.
4. The Assistant Commissioner,
HR & CE Department,
Collector Office Campus,
Kancheepuram- 631 501.
5. The Executive Officer,
A/m Mutheeswarar Thirukoil,
Kanchipuram Town,
Kanchipuram District.
6. C.Saravanakumar,
S/o Chandran,
No.230, Indira Street,
Pallavan Nagar, Orikkai,
Kanchipuram Town and Taluk,
Kanchipuram District.
7. P.Dhasarathan,
No.67, Vadakku Mada Street,
Kanchipuram Town,
Chinna Kanchipuram,
Kanchipuram District.
8. G.Balachander,
S/o Govindasamy,
No.14/41, Thayar Kulam Street,
Kanchipuram Town and Taluk,
Kanchipruam District.
9. A.Kadamban,
S/o Arumugam,
No.15, Annai Kasturi Bai Nagar,
Chinna Ayyangkulam, Orikkai,
Kanchipuram Town,
Kanchipuram District.
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W.A.No.3133 of 2026
10.E.Ekambaram,
S/o Ellappan,
No.17A, Draubathi Amman Street,
Tollgate, Kanchipuram Town,
Chinna Kanchipuram,
Kanchipuram District.
Respondent(s)
Prayer :Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent seeking
to set aside the order dated 21.04.2026 made in W.P.No.15694 of
2026.
For Appellant(s): Mr.R.Prabakar
For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Bharanidharan
Spl. Govt. Pleader (HR & CE)
for R1 to R5
JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by
G.Arul Murugan,J)
This intra-court appeal assails the order dated 21.04.2026
made in W.P.No.15694 of 2026, whereby, the challenge made to the
order dated 20.02.2026 of second respondent and the consequential
order dated 06.03.2026 in G.O.(Pa)No.105 passed by first respondent
came to be rejected by the writ Court.
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W.A.No.3133 of 2026
2. It is the contention of learned counsel for appellant that when
the Arulmighu Mutheeswarar Thirukoil at Kancheepuram is governed
by a Scheme decree dated 19.11.1929 in O.A.No.530 of 1929, non-
hereditary trustees have been appointed in deviation of the Scheme
and such appointment is bad in law.
3. The learned Single Judge, finding that there are rival sangams
which claim rights and also the fact that private respondents, who are
appointed as non-hereditary trustees, also belong to washermen
community and that it is purely a civil dispute which cannot be
addressed in the writ petition, relegated appellant to redress its
grievance before the appropriate civil Court.
4. When a specific query was posed to learned counsel for
appellant as to whether non-members of the community have been
appointed as non-hereditary trustees, learned counsel fairly submits
that private respondents, appointed as non-hereditary trustees, also
belong to washermen community. However, he submits that such an
appointment is not as per the Scheme as it is without consultation of
appellant.
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W.A.No.3133 of 2026
5. In view of the fact that private respondents, who are
appointed as non-hereditary trustees, also belong to washermen
community and that there seems to be a rival dispute between the
members of the community, the learned Single Judge relegated
appellant to redress the grievance before the appropriate civil Court.
We find no error or infirmity in the order of the learned Single Judge.
6. The writ appeal is dismissed. There shall be no order as to
costs.
(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)
16.10.2026
Index : Yes/No
Neutral Citation : Yes/No
kpl
To
1. The Secretary to Government
Tourism, Culture and Religious
Endowment Department,
Secretariat, Chennai- 600 009.
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W.A.No.3133 of 2026
2. The Commissioner HR & CE Department,
No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai,
Nungambakkam,
Chennai- 600 034.
3. The Joint Commissioner,
HR & CE Department,
No.11/20, A.K.Thangavelar Street,
Chinna Kancheepuram- 631 501.
4. The Assistant Commissioner,
HR & CE Department,
Collector Office Campus,
Kancheepuram- 631 501.
5. The Executive Officer,
A/m Mutheeswarar Thirukoil,
Kanchipuram Town,
Kanchipuram District.
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W.A.No.3133 of 2026
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.
(kpl)
W.A.No.3133 of 2026

16.10.2026
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