P.BHASKAR Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This public interest litigation came to be filed pursuant to a Tender Notification No.1, published in a newspaper "New Indian Express" on 11/12/2023.

(2.) Petitioner, who is a devotee of Nandhivaram Shivan Temple, situated at Guduvancherry, Chennai, states he is a person with interest as defined in Sec. 6(15)(b) of the Tami Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 [HR & CE Act]. The fact that the petitioner is a person with interest is not disputed. Petitioner claims that he is an ardent saivaite and performs utsavams as upayadarar as a matter of faith and devotion towards Lord Shiva.

(3.) The Arulmighu Nandeeswarar Shivan temple situated at Nandhivaram, Guduvancherry, falls under the jurisdiction and administrative control of the HR & CE Department. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and thousands of devotees visit the temple every day. The area is called Nandhivaram after Nandeeswarar Shivan temple.