The Madras High Court has directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to file a status report within two weeks on the steps taken to rejuvenate and restore the Manikarnika temple tank at the Arulmighu Ranganatha Temple, a prominent Vaishnavite Divyadesam located on the outskirts of Chennai.
The direction was issued while hearing Writ Petition No. 2104 of 2026, filed by P Bhaskar, a devotee, seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the authorities to immediately take steps to rejuvenate, restore, protect and preserve the historic temple tank. The petition was based on reports published in The Hindu on 2 June 2025 and 28 November 2025, as well as a representation submitted by the petitioner on 4 December 2025.
The matter came up for admission before the First Division Bench of the High Court. Advocate B Jagannath appeared for the petitioner, while Additional Government Pleader Karthikeyan represented the HR&CE Department on behalf of Special Government Pleader Arun Natrajan. Senior Advocate AK Sriram appeared for the Thiruneermalai temple. Temple officials were also present in court.
Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the Manikarnika tank holds deep religious significance for Vaishnavite devotees and forms an integral part of the Divyadesam temple. He contended that despite its importance, the tank was in a severely dilapidated and neglected condition, as highlighted in the newspaper reports, and that no effective remedial measures had been taken so far, necessitating judicial intervention.
Opposing the plea, senior counsel appearing for the respondents informed the court that a decision had already been taken in the last week of December 2025 to commence cleaning and rejuvenation works. He submitted that a philanthropist devotee, Ashokan, had come forward to bear the entire cost of the renovation and cleaning works, amounting to approximately ₹65 lakh. He further stated that the works had commenced after the Pongal festival and would be completed within a reasonable timeframe.
After hearing both sides, the Division Bench directed the HR&CE Department and other respondents to submit a status report within two weeks detailing the progress of the restoration works.
Earlier, the HR&CE Department had also informed the court that renovation works at the temple tank were underway at an estimated cost of ₹65 lakh and sought time for completion of the works.
Source: Dinakaran
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