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CDJ 2026 TSHC 001 print Preview print Next print
Court : High Court for the State of Telangana
Case No : Writ Petition No. 33769 of 2025
Judges: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE E.V. VENUGOPAL
Parties : Ayyappa Seva Samithi a Registered Society Registered under Societies Act Versus The Commissioner Endowments Departments, Government of Telangana, Bogulakunta & Others
Appearing Advocates : For the Petitioner: T. Balaraju, Advocate. For the Respondent: Government Pleader for Endowments.
Date of Judgment : 22-12-2025
Head Note :-
Constitution of India - Article 226 -
Summary :-
1. Statutes / Acts / Rules Mentioned:
- Article 226 of Constitution of India

2. Catch Words:
- Writ of Mandamus
- Donation
- Relief
- Temple premises
- Accommodation

3. Summary:
The petitioner filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking a mandamus directing the respondents to allow Lord Ayyappa devotees to continue regular poojas and take shelter in the temple premises, a practice followed for three decades with donations. The petition alleges that the temple chairman abruptly halted these activities, leading to hardship for the devotees, and that the complaint lodged with police remains under investigation. Respondents argued lack of proper facilities and sought dismissal. After hearing all parties, the Court held that the petition should be allowed, directing the respondents to permit the poojas and shelter until 15 January 2026, contingent upon a donation of Rs 1,00,000 to the temple, and ordering the provision of necessary facilities within two months.

4. Conclusion:
Petition Allowed
Judgment :-

1. This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India seeking the following relief/s:-

               “… to issue writ or direction particularly in the nature of writ of Mandamus in declaring the action of the respondents in not allowing the Lord Ayyappa Devotees to perform regular poojas and take shelter in the third respondent temple premises which hitherto have been permitted to be performed for nearly 3 decades, for which purpose even donations are also being accepted raging between 50,000-60,000/- and consequently direct the respondents to permit the members of the petitioners society to perform their regular poojas and take shelter in the temple premises as in the past by accepting the same amount of donations and pass such other order/s …”

2. Heard Mr.Mahadev Anyaram Mahadev, learned counsel representing Mr.T.Balaraju, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Endowments appearing for respondent Nos.1 and 2, Mr.CH.Satish Kumar, learned standing counsel for Endowments appearing for respondent No.3 and Mr.G.Madhuri, learned counsel for respondent No.4. Perused the record.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Lord Ayyappa Devotees have been performing poojas and taking shelter in the respondent No.4-Temple premises for over three (3) decades for which, they pay reasonable donations. Whileso, the Chairman of respondent No.4-Temple suddenly stopped the devotees to perform their regular poojas and unable to bear the humiliating words of Temple officials, the Guru Swamy of the Temple also made a complaint to the Uppal Police Station, which was registered as Crime No.1511 of 2024 dated 26.11.2024 and the same is pending investigation. He further contends that the petitioner also made a representation to respondent No.1. But no action has been taken till date. Therefore, he contends that due to inaction of respondent No.1, the devotees of petitioner are put to inconvenience and hardship. Therefore, he seeks to pass appropriate orders.

4. Learned standing counsel for respondent No.3, by filing counter affidavit contends that he addressed a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments vide Letter No.14/SRSSSD/2025 informing that there are no proper facilities in the Temple to provide accommodation to the petitioner Samiti. Therefore, he seeks to dismiss the Writ Petition.

5. Learned counsel for respondent No.4 by filing counter affidavit concedes to the submissions of learned counsel for respondent No.3.

6. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for respondent Nos.1 and 2 also concedes to the said submissions.

7. Having regard to the submissions of all the learned counsel and on perusal of the material available on record, this Court deems it appropriate to allow the Writ Petition by directing the respondents to allow the Lord Ayyappa Devotees to perform regular poojas and take shelter in the respondent No.3-temple until 15.01.2026 subject to the condition that the petitioner shall deposit an amount of Rs.1,00,000/- as donation to respondent No.3-Temple. Further, respondent Nos.1 to 3 are directed to take appropriate steps to provide necessary facilities/public conveniences to the devotees of Lord Ayyappa and the devotees of the respondent No.3-Temple from its own funds and with the financial assistance to be provided by the Government, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of two (2) months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.
 
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