B.S.Venkatraman, vs The Commissioner,
- Court
- Madras High Court
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,
… Petitioner
Chennai – 600 004.
Vs.
1. The Commissioner,
HR and CE,
Chennai – 600 034.
2.The Joint Commissioner,
(Thirupani), HR and CE,
… Respondents
Chennai – 600 034.
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
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W.P.No.2399 of 2020
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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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