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Madras High Court
The Financial Administrator vs Maruthu D Devan on 16 March, 2026
Author: N.Sathish Kumar
Bench: N.Sathish Kumar
W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 16.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR
and
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN
W.A.(MD) Nos.3069, 3070, 3071, 3072, 3091, 3092, 3093 of 2025 & 3 of 2026
and
C.M.P.(MD)Nos.17676, 17687, 17688, 17691, 18028, 18030, 18029 of 2025,
1781, 8 & 7 of 2026
1. W.A.(MD) No.3069 of 2025:
The Financial Administrator
The CSI Thoothukudi -
Nazareth Diocese
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001 ... Appellant
-vs-
1.Maruthu D Devan
2.Church of South India
rep.by its Moderator
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah
Chennai-600 014
1/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
3.General Secretary
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah
Chennai-600 014
4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
Moderator's Commissary
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
5.D.Neegar Prince Giftson
6.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan
7.The Director of Collegiate Education
577, Anna Salai, Saidapet
Chennai-15
8.The Regional Joint Director of
Collegiate Education
Tirunelveli Region
Tirunelveli
9.District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi ... Respondents
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) Nos.28202, 29598 and 29868 of 2025 and
W.M.P.(MD) Nos.21922, 21924, 21925, 21927, 21929, 22897, 22898 and 22899,
23107, 23108, 23109 of 2025, on the file of this Court.
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
For Appellant : Mr.A.M.Packianathan Easter
For Respondents : Mr.P.P.Alwin Balan for R1
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R7 to R9
2. W.A.(MD) No.3070 of 2025:
The Church of South India
rep.by its General Secretary
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
Chennai ... Appellant
-vs-
1.S.Arul Mayer
2.M.Mal Sornapandian
3.D.Rajmohan
4.Y.Chinnaraja Vinothkumar
5.P.Franklin Asaf Jebaraj
6.The C.S.I.-Thoothukudi
Nazareth Diocese
rep.by the Moderator Commissary
The Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
3/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
Thoothukudi-628 001
7.Administrative Secretary
CSI-Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
8.The District Collector
Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District
9.The District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District
10.D.Ebenezer Magalaraj ... Respondents
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.28202 of 2025, on the file of this
Court.
For Appellant : Ms.H.Jasima Yasmin
for M/s.Ajmal Associates
For Respondents : Mr.J.Kingsly Solomon for R1 to R5
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R8 & R9
\3. W.A.(MD) No.3071 of 2025:
1.Church of South India
rep.by its Moderator
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah
4/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
Chennai-600 014
2.The General Secretary
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah
Chennai-600 014 ... Appellants
-vs-
1.Maruthu D Devan
2.The Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
Moderators Commissary
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
3.D.Neegar Prince Giftson
4.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan
5.The Financial Administrator
The CSI Thoothukudi – Nazareth Diocese
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
6.The Director of Collegiate Education
577, Anna Salai, Saidapet
Chennai-15
7.The Regional Joint Director
of Collegiate Education
Tirunelveli Region
Tirunelveli
5/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
8.District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi ... Respondents
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29868 of 2025, on the file of this
Court.
For Appellants : Ms.H.Jasima Yasmin
for M/s.Ajmal Associates
For Respondents : Mr.Prabhu Rajadurai
for Mr.P.P.Alwin Balan for R1
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R6 to R8
4. W.A.(MD) No.3072 of 2025:
1.Church of South India
rep.by its Moderator
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah
Chennai-600 014
2.The General Secretary
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah
Chennai-600 014 ... Appellants
-vs-
6/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
1.Jackrecen Joseph
2.The Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
Moderators Commissary
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
3.D.Neegar Prince Giftson
4.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan
5.The District Collector
The District Collector Office
Thoothukudi District
6.The District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi
Thoothukudi District ... Respondents
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29598 of 2025, on the file of this
Court.
For Appellants : Ms.H.Jasima Yasmin
for M/s.Ajmal Associates
For Respondents : Mr.K.K.Udayakumar for R1
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R5 & R6
7/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
5. W.A.(MD) No.3091 of 2025:
Administrative Secretary
C.S.I.-Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001 ... Appellant
-vs-
1.S.Arul Mayer
2.M.Mal Sornapandian
3.D.Rajmohan
4.Y.Chinnaraja Vinothkumar
5.P.Franklin Asaf Jebaraj
6.Church of South India
rep.by its General Secretary
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
7.The C.S.I.-Thoothukudi
Nazareth Diocese
rep.by its Moderator Commissary
Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
8.The District Collector
Thoothukudi
8/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
9.The District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi
10.D.Ebenezer Mangalaraj ... Respondents
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.28202 of 2025, on the file of this
Court.
For Appellant : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar
For Respondents : Mr.J.Kingsly Solomon for R1 to R5
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R8 & R9
6.W.A.(MD) No.3092 of 2025:
D.Neeger Prince Giftson ... Appellant
-vs-
1.Jackerecen Joseph
2.The Church of South India
rep.by its General Secretary
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
3.General Secretary
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
Moderator's Commissary
100, Beach Road, Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
5.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan
6.The District Collector
The District Collector Office
Thoothukudi
7.District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi ... Respondents
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29598 of 2025, on the file of this
Court.
For Appellant : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar
For Respondents : Mr.K.K.Udayakumar for R1
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R6 & R7
7.W.A.(MD) No.3093 of 2025:
D.Neeger Prince Giftson ... Appellant
-vs-
1.Maruthu D Devan
10/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
2.The Church of South India
rep.by its General Secretary
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
3.General Secretary
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
Moderator's Commissary
100, Beach Road, Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
5.Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan
6.The Financial Administrator
The CSI-Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
Thoothukudi-628 001
7.The Director of Collegiate Education
577, Anna Salai, Saidapet
Chennai-15
8.The Regional Joint Director of
Collegiate Education
Tirunelveli Region
Tirunelveli
9.The District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi ... Respondents
11/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) No.29868 of 2025, on the file of this
Court.
For Appellant : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar
For Respondents : Mr.P.P.Alwin Balan for R1
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R7 to R9
8. W.A.(MD) No.3 of 2026:
Rev.V.M.S.Tamil Selvan ... Appellant
-vs-
1.Jackrecen Joseph
2.The Church of South India
rep.by its General Secretary
CSI Synod Secretariat
CSI Centre, No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
3.General Secretary
No.5, Whites Road
Royapettah, Chennai-600 014
4.Thoothukudi Nazareth Diocese
rep.by Rt.Rev.Dr.P.Issac Varaprasad
Moderator's Commissary
100, Beach Road
Caldwell School Campus
12/17
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
Thoothukudi-628 001
5.D.Neegar Prince Giftson
6.The District Collector
The District Collector Office
Thoothukudi
7.The District Educational Officer
Thoothukudi District ... Respondents
Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order,
dated dated 27.10.2025, passed in W.P.(MD) Nos.28202, 29598 and 29868 of
2025 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.21922, 21924, 21925, 21927, 21929, 22897, 22898
and 22899, 23107, 23108, 23109 of 2025, on the file of this Court.
For Appellant : Mr.S.Wilson
For Respondents : Mr.G.Prabhu Rajadurai
for Mr.K.K.Udayakumar for R1
Mr.J.Ashok
Additional Government Pleader for R6 & R7
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
COMMON JUDGMENT
[Judgment of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.)
The instant writ appeals have been filed challenging the order of the
learned Single Judge directing the Court appointed Administrator, Hon'ble
Dr.Justice P.Jyothimani to resume his charge and continue the election process
and take it to its logical conclusion.
2.The issue is with regard to the election process for the Thoothukudi
Nazareth Diocese. There were several litigations with regard to this issue.
3.In O.S.A.No.10 of 2026 filed with regard to the same issue, the Principal
Bench of this Court has elaborately discussed the issue and concluded the original
side appeal. Later the said order was also challenged before the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in S.L.P.Nos.5272 & 5282 of 2026 and the said Special Leave Petitions
were also dismissed. Now it appears that the entire election process has already
been over and the Synod has also approved the election process conducted by
Hon'ble Dr.Justice P.Jyothimani.
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
4.Now, suits have also been filed in C.S.Nos.311 of 2026 and 4 of 2026
and are pending before the Madras High Court, challenging certain actions.
5.In such view of the matter, as the prime issue relating to the election
process is already over, we are of the definite opinion that nothing survives in
these writ appeals. Since the civil suits are pending, let the parties shall agitate
their rights in the pending suit based on the evidence and pleadings.
6.Accordingly, the writ appeals are dismissed as infructuous.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no
order as to costs.
[N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.]
16.03.2026
NCC : Yes / No
Index : Yes / No
ta
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
To
1.The Director of Collegiate Education,
577, Anna Salai, Saidapet,
Chennai-15.
2.The Regional Joint Director of
Collegiate Education,
Tirunelveli Region,
Tirunelveli.
3.The District Educational Officer,
Thoothukudi.
4.The District Collector,
Thoothukudi,
Thoothukudi District.
5.The District Educational Officer,
Tirunelveli.
6.The District Educational Officer,
Tenkasi District.
7.The Registrar of Companies,
Southern Region,
Ministry of Corporate Affairs,
Shastri Bhawan,
Chennai-600 006.
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W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
N.SATHISH KUMAR,J.
and
M.JOTHIRAMAN,J.
ta
W.A(MD)No.3069 of 2025 etc., batch
16.03.2026
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