Temple activist TR Ramesh had filed a petition challenging a 2023 government order issued by the then DMK government permitting the construction of a shopping complex near the eastern Rajagopuram of the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, using temple funds.
Ramesh and Allikuttai Radhakrishnan (another temple activist) had filed separate Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging the order, following which a Division Bench of the Madras High Court stayed the proposed construction at the initial stage.
After the TVK government came to power, it withdrew the approval through Government Order No. 58 dated 19 June 2026, along with several other previously sanctioned temple shopping complex projects.
The matter came up before a Division Bench comprising Justices G. Jayachandran and E. Manoharan. The judges directed the Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and the Tiruvannamalai District Collector to coordinate with the Public Works Department (PWD) to return ₹9.40 crore deposited with the PWD to the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, along with applicable interest.
The court’s direction came after the TVK government informed the court about the withdrawal of the earlier Government Order No. 336 of 2023.
Ramesh described the development as significant, noting that the proposed project had first been stayed by the court, subsequently withdrawn by the government and the funds deposited for the project ordered to be returned to the temple.
Great news for Temple Devotees!
In 2024, I had challenged G.O. No. 336 issued by the then DMK Government authorizing a shopping complex to be built right in of the Eastern Raja Gopuram of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple – utilizing Rs. 6.40 Crores of Temple Funds. I and Shri… pic.twitter.com/YxybDWkmtN
— trramesh (@trramesh) August 13, 2026
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