Tue Jun 24 10:22:07 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Madras High Court has issued notices to five IAS officers and a Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department of Tamil Nadu for contempt of court. The contempt petition was filed by S. Vinoth Raghavendran of the BJP, alleging that the officials disobeyed a previous court order from April 2024 related to the encroachment of land belonging to the Devanathaswamy Temple in Cuddalore district. The original order directed the government to identify alternative land for St. Joseph’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School, which allegedly occupied temple land, and to conduct a survey to address other land encroachments. The court will hear the matter again on July 10.

**News Article:**

**Madras High Court Issues Contempt Notices to Top Tamil Nadu Officials Over Temple Land Dispute**

**Chennai, June 24, 2025** – The Madras High Court has issued notices to five IAS officers and a Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department in Tamil Nadu, citing a prima facie case of contempt of court. The action stems from allegations that the officials failed to comply with a court order issued in April 2024 concerning the encroachment of land belonging to the Devanathaswamy Temple in Cuddalore district.

The contempt petition was filed by S. Vinoth Raghavendran, a state secretary for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) spiritual and temple development wing. Raghavendran alleges that the officials disobeyed a previous order directing the government to identify alternative land for St. Joseph’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School, which is accused of occupying temple land. The court had also instructed the HR&CE to conduct a survey of the temple lands and take action against any identified encroachments.

The IAS officers named in the notices are P. Amudha, S. Madhumathi, B. Chandramohan, P.N. Sridhar, and Sibi Adhithya Senthilkumar, who held key positions such as Revenue Secretary, School Education Secretary, HR&CE Secretary, HR&CE Commissioner, and Cuddalore Collector at the time of the alleged violations.

A First Division Bench of Chief Justice K.R. Shriram and Justice Sunder Mohan issued the notices after reviewing the petition. The case will be heard again on July 10, 2025, where the accused officials will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

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