A.V.RAGUL RAMDASS vs The Commissioner,

W.P.No.43916 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 02.11.2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER
W.P.No.43916 of 2026
CNR: {HCMA011808842026}
A.V.Ragul Ramdass,
S/o.Late A.R.Venugopal,
2/80, Siruvani Main Road, Alanthurai (Behind Isha
Hospital), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - 641101.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
Department,
Uthamar Gandhi Salai,
(Nungambakkam High Road), Nungambakkam,
Chennai – 600034.
2. The Joint Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment
Department, Ground Floor,
Commercial Tax Building, Near RTO Office,
Dr.Balasundaram Salai,
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu - 641018.
3. The Assistant Commissioner/Fit Person,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment
Department,
Ground Floor, Commercial Tax building,
Near RTO Office, Dr.Balasundaram Salai,
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - 641018.
4. The Secretary to Government,
Religious Endowments Department, Secretariat,
Fort St.George, Chennai - 600009.
..Respondent(s)
__________
Page1 of 7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/11/2026 03:38:52 pm )

W.P.No.43916 of 2026
PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to
issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction in
st nd
the nature of a writ of mandamus, directing the 1 and 2 respondents to
consider and dispose of in accordance with law and within such time as this
Hon'ble Court may be pleased to fix, the petitioners representation dated
14.07.2026 seeking sanction under section 34 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu
Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 for the sale of a specifically
identified extent of the immovable properties of Arulmigu Venugopalaswamy
Thirukoil, Kiliyagoundanpalayam, Pooluvapatti Village, Perur Taluk,
Coimbatore District, for the purpose of the maintenance, repair and
reconstruction of the said temple and the performance of its Kumbabhishekam
after due publication of notice and enquiry as contemplated by Section 34 of
Act and Alienation of Immovable Property of the Religious Institutions Rules,
2025.
For Petitioner(s): Mr.Rahul Balaji
For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Surya,
Government Advocate
ORDER
st nd
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the 1 and 2
respondents to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representation dated
14.07.2026, in accordance with law and within such time as this Court may
deem fit, seeking sanction under Section 34 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious
and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, for the sale of a specifically identified
extent of the immovable properties belonging to Arulmigu Venugopalaswamy
__________
Page2 of 7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/11/2026 03:38:52 pm )

W.P.No.43916 of 2026
Thirukoil, Kiliyagoundanpalayam, Pooluvapatti Village, Perur Taluk,
Coimbatore District, for the purpose of the maintenance, repair and
reconstruction of the said Temple and the performance of its Kumbabhishekam,
after due publication of notice and conduct of an enquiry as contemplated under
Section 34 of the Act and the Alienation of Immovable Property of the
Religious Institutions Rules, 2025.
2.The petitioner claims to be the successor Hereditary Trustee of
Arulmigu Venugopalaswamy Thirukoil, Kiliyagoundanpalayam, Pooluvapatti
Village, Coimbatore District. The Temple owns extensive agricultural
properties endowed by its founder under a registered Will dated 09.06.1946.
The petitioner states that the Temple has been administered by his family and
that the income derived from leasing the agricultural lands is insufficient to
meet the expenses required for the repair, renovation and reconstruction of the
Temple. It is further stated that the Temple is over 80 years old and requires
substantial renovation, including reconstruction of the sanctum sanctorum, outer
prakaram and compound wall, followed by consecration (Kumbabhishekam).
Hence, the petitioner proposes to sell a limited extent of about 35.49 acres of the
Temple properties under Section 34 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, and deposit the entire sale proceeds in
nationalised banks, utilising only the accrued interest for the Temple's
__________
Page3 of 7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/11/2026 03:38:52 pm )

W.P.No.43916 of 2026
maintenance and reconstruction. Accordingly, the petitioner submitted a
st
representation dated 14.07.2026 to the 1 respondent seeking statutory sanction
for the proposed sale. However, no orders have been passed on the said
representation. Hence, the present Writ Petition has been filed seeking a
direction to the respondents to consider and dispose of the petitioner's
representation in accordance with law.
3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the Temple is
in urgent need of repair, renovation and reconstruction and that the income
derived from leasing its agricultural properties is insufficient to meet the
expenses. Therefore, the proposed sale of a limited extent of 35.49 acres of
Temple properties is necessary for the benefit of the Temple and its devotees.
The learned counsel would further submit that the entire sale proceeds would be
deposited in nationalised banks and only the interest accrued thereon would be
utilised for the maintenance and reconstruction of the Temple, thereby
preserving the corpus for its perpetual benefit. The petitioner has also invoked
Section 34 of the Act and submitted a representation dated 14.07.2026 seeking
statutory sanction for the proposed alienation. However, the respondents have
failed to consider the same. It is further submitted that the petitioner is not
seeking any adjudication regarding the disputed hereditary trusteeship, which is
pending before the competent Civil Court and the HR&CE authorities, but is
__________
Page4 of 7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/11/2026 03:38:52 pm )

W.P.No.43916 of 2026
only seeking a direction for time-bound consideration of his representation.
Hence, the learned counsel seeks appropriate directions to the respondents to
consider the representation and pass orders on merits and in accordance with
law.
4.The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents
st nd
submitted that if a specific time frame is fixed by this Court, the 1 and 2
respondents will consider the petitioner’s representations and pass appropriate
orders on its own merits and in accordance with law.
5.Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6.Since the core issue involved in this Writ Petition is the consideration of
the petitioner's representation seeking sanction for the proposed alienation of the
Temple properties under Section 34 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, this Court directs the respondents 1 and 2 to
consider the petitioner's representation dated 14.07.2026 and pass appropriate
orders on its own merits and in accordance with law, after causing notice,
conducting an enquiry, and after affording an opportunity of hearing to all the
parties concerned. The said exercise shall be completed within a period of
__________
Page5 of 7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/11/2026 03:38:52 pm )

W.P.No.43916 of 2026
twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear
that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's
claim. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
02.11.2026
Index: Yes/No
Speaking/Non-speaking order
Neutral Citation: Yes/No
vv2
To
1. The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,
Uthamar Gandhi Salai,
(Nungambakkam High Road), Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600034.
2. The Joint Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Ground Floor,
Commercial Tax Building, Near RTO Office,
Dr.Balasundaram Salai,
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu – 641018.
3. The Assistant Commissioner/Fit Person,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department,
Ground Floor, Commercial Tax building,
Near RTO Office, Dr.Balasundaram Salai,
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu – 641018.
4. The Secretary to Government,
Religious Endowments Department,
Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600009.
__________
Page6 of 7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/11/2026 03:38:52 pm )

W.P.No.43916 of 2026
K.SURENDER, J.
vv2
W.P.No.43916 of 2026
02.11.2026
__________
Page7 of 7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/11/2026 03:38:52 pm )