The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has set aside the registration of a land deed involving property worth around ₹100 crore belonging to the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, cancelling its registration in the names of two private individuals, as reported in Dinamalar.
The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justices Karthikeyan and Sakthivel, which allowed an appeal filed by the Executive Officer of the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, who also serves as the Thakkar (administrator) of the Palani Dandapani Swamigal Mutt.
The dispute arose over 1.35 acres of land belonging to the Mutt in Dindigul district. Earlier, the Sub-Registrar had refused to register a sale deed relating to the property. Following this, a petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the High Court challenging the refusal.
A single judge subsequently set aside the Sub-Registrar’s refusal and directed the registration of the sale deed.
Pursuant to that order, the property was registered in the names of two private individuals on 6 July 2026, triggering widespread concern among devotees and sparking controversy over the transfer of temple property reportedly worth around ₹100 crore.
Following the registration, the Tamil Nadu government suspended Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan, who had executed the registration.
The temple administration also lodged a complaint with the police against the individuals involved in the transaction, following which a case was registered.
Challenging the single judge’s order, the Executive Officer of the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple filed an appeal before the Division Bench of the Madurai High Court.
After hearing the matter, the Division Bench set aside the earlier order of the single judge and declared the registration of the sale deed invalid, effectively cancelling the registration of the temple land in the names of the private individuals.
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