WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 30.06.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 V.Nagarajan ... Petitioner Vs. 1.State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 2.The Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 3.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034. 4.The Additional Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, Office of the Commissioner HR&CE Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034. 5.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 Suchindram-629704, Agasteeswaram Taluk, Kanniyakumari Dsitrict. ... Respondents

PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to implement the circular in Na.Ka.No.003723/2026/H3 dated 16.06.2026, by providing proper arragnements for continuous running of prasadha stalls within the temple premises and consequentially ensure the obstacle free supply of prashadams in the stalls of the temples under the governance of the respondents 2 to 4 by allowing the above writ petition. For Petitioner : Mr.G.Aravinthan, for M/s.Aran Legal Consultancy For R1 to R4 : Mr.M.P.Senthi, Counsel for State of TN. For R5 : Mr.R.Shankar Ganesh ORDER (Order of the Court was made by C.V.Karthikeyan, J.) This writ petition has been filed in tha nature of Mandamus seeking a direction against the respondents 1 to 4 to implement the 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 circular in Na.Ka.No.003723/2026/H3 dated 16.06.2026, relating to issue supply of prashadams in temples under the control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The petitioner has not raised any grievance regarding any violation in the supply of prashadams. His only grievance is that the Circular dated 16.06.2026 should be implemented by providing proper arragnements for continuous running of prasadha stalls within the temple premises.

2.Mr.M.P.Senthil, learned Counsel for State of Tamil Nadu appearing for the respondents 1 to 4, on instructions, submitted that the manufacture of prashadams had been earlier outsourced, but the contract period came to an end on 30.06.2026. Therefore, a policy decision has been taken to prepare the prashadams in the temple precincts itself through the temple administration and to sell them directly to the devotees. 3.This arrangement is highly appreciable, as the devotees can themselves witness the hygienic manner in which the prashadams are prepared. We are confident that the guidelines now issued and the 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 measures now taken by the Department will be duly followed in the temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in Kanyakumari District. 4.With the above observations, this writ petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. [C.V.K., J.] & [R.S.V., J.] gns 30.06.2026 To 1.The Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 2.The Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 3.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034.

4.The Additional Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, Office of the Commissioner HR&CE Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J and R. SAKTHIVEL, J gns WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 30.06.2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 30.06.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 V.Nagarajan ... Petitioner Vs. 1.State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 2.The Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 3.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034. 4.The Additional Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, Office of the Commissioner HR&CE Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034. 5.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 Suchindram-629704, Agasteeswaram Taluk, Kanniyakumari Dsitrict. ... Respondents

PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to implement the circular in Na.Ka.No.003723/2026/H3 dated 16.06.2026, by providing proper arragnements for continuous running of prasadha stalls within the temple premises and consequentially ensure the obstacle free supply of prashadams in the stalls of the temples under the governance of the respondents 2 to 4 by allowing the above writ petition. For Petitioner : Mr.G.Aravinthan, for M/s.Aran Legal Consultancy For R1 to R4 : Mr.M.P.Senthi, Counsel for State of TN. For R5 : Mr.R.Shankar Ganesh ORDER (Order of the Court was made by C.V.Karthikeyan, J.) This writ petition has been filed in tha nature of Mandamus seeking a direction against the respondents 1 to 4 to implement the 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 circular in Na.Ka.No.003723/2026/H3 dated 16.06.2026, relating to issue supply of prashadams in temples under the control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The petitioner has not raised any grievance regarding any violation in the supply of prashadams. His only grievance is that the Circular dated 16.06.2026 should be implemented by providing proper arragnements for continuous running of prasadha stalls within the temple premises.

2.Mr.M.P.Senthil, learned Counsel for State of Tamil Nadu appearing for the respondents 1 to 4, on instructions, submitted that the manufacture of prashadams had been earlier outsourced, but the contract period came to an end on 30.06.2026. Therefore, a policy decision has been taken to prepare the prashadams in the temple precincts itself through the temple administration and to sell them directly to the devotees. 3.This arrangement is highly appreciable, as the devotees can themselves witness the hygienic manner in which the prashadams are prepared. We are confident that the guidelines now issued and the 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 measures now taken by the Department will be duly followed in the temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in Kanyakumari District. 4.With the above observations, this writ petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. [C.V.K., J.] & [R.S.V., J.] gns 30.06.2026 To 1.The Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 2.The Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009. 3.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034.

4.The Additional Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, Office of the Commissioner HR&CE Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J and R. SAKTHIVEL, J gns WP.(MD)No.18357 of 2026 30.06.2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis