Madras High Court appointed a seven-member Interim Board of Trustees for Sowriraja Perumal Temple in Thirukannapuram, making it clear that the Interim Board shall function until a regular Board of Trustees is formally reconstituted by the department.
Madras High Court Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy, in an order dated September 25, passed the directions while disposing of a petition filed by Venkatesh Sowrirajan seeking a direction to the Commissioner (Chennai), Joint Commissioner (Nagapattinam), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, Executive Officer, Sowriraja Perumal Temple and Fit Person to conduct all upcoming Utsavams, including all connected rituals and processions, strictly in accordance with the Agama Shastras, established usage and customary practice of the Temple until Kumbhabhishekam, and consequently direct the Executive Officer to facilitate the same as directed by the 4th respondent (Fit Person).
Counsel for the petitioner said, “Sowriraja Perumal Temple is an ancient Sri Vaishnava Divya Desam, which forms part of the 108 Divya Desams. The temple has undergone a substantial renovation programme pursuant to the proceedings before this Court.”
The court said, “The grievance in the present proceedings arose after a Dhwajasthambam/Kodimaram-related Balalayam/removal ritual was performed on 23.08.2026. The petitioner specifically states that the said Balalayam concerned the Dhwajasthambam and was not a Balalayam of the entire temple, Moolavar or Vimana. At the time of the said Balalayam, no definite or approximate date had been fixed for the corresponding Samprokshanam/Kumbhabhishekam.
Following the said Balalayam, the established Pavitrotsavam scheduled for September 2026 was not conducted. The monthly Pancha Parva Purappadu and the monthly celebrations relating to the Azhwars and Acharyas were also stopped.”
The petitioner contended that the discontinuance of the religious observances has resulted in an indefinite suspension of the Temple’s established religious calendar. Further, the Pavitrotsavam was stated to be scheduled from 22.09.2026 to 26.09.2026, with prescribed religious observances, Homams and Goshti, and with Garuda Sevai/Purappadu and Theerthavari on 26.09.2026.
In this regard, the petitioner submitted a written/email representation dated 19.09.2026 to the Chief Minister’s Cell and the respondents, requesting immediate intervention for conducting the Pavitrotsavam from 22.09.2026 to 26.09.2026. However, the respondents neither replied to the said representation nor made any arrangements for conducting the Utsavam.
The Additional Government Pleader said that the official respondents had called for applications for the purpose of appointing non-hereditary trustees. Once the non-hereditary trustees are appointed, the Board of Trustees will automatically be constituted, adding that a Fit Person was appointed in 2004.
Interim Board of Trustees
The Judge, in his eight-page order, observed, “It is highly shocking and surprising to note that since 2004, no Board has been constituted to manage the affairs of the temple. Even though the respondents have now called for applications to appoint Non-Hereditary Trustees, a temple of this stature cannot be properly managed without a duly formed Board. It is practically impossible for a Fit Person, who is a government servant, to manage the temple comprehensively, as they can only devote their time during standard government working hours. This does not align with temple hours, where the temple normally opens between 5 and 10 am and reopens in the evening from 5 P.M. until closing at 10 P.M.”
During the last hearing, the court directed the respondents and petitioner to furnish five names each for constituting an Interim Board of Trustees, as it was not feasible for the Fit Person to manage the temple alone until the formation of the regular Board.
As the respondents have already initiated the process for appointing Non-Hereditary Trustees, this Court deems it appropriate to nominate members to an Interim Board of Trustees, as furnished by both the counsels. Accordingly, this Court appoints the following members to the Interim Board of Trustees.”
The Judge said, “As this Court has constituted the Interim Board, it is entirely within the purview of the Interim Board to take all necessary decisions regarding the affairs of the temple, including the conduct of Utsavams/Urgchavams, rituals, and administration. It is made clear that this Interim Board shall function until a regular Board of Trustees is formally reconstituted by the department.”
