Madras High Court nullifies registration of land belonging to Palani math

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) allowed an appeal filed by Arulmigu Dhandapani Swamigal Madam (math) in Palani, and declared as “null and void” a controversial sale deed executed in favour of certain individuals with regard to 1.35 acres of land in Palani in Dindigul district.

A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel allowed the appeal preferred by the mutt against a Single Bench order that had directed the Sub-Registrar to register the sale deed if the document was otherwise in order. It said the appellant was not made a party before the Single Bench and the Sub-Registrar did not consider the objections raised before registering.

In the appeal, the math said the Single Bench order was contrary to law and the facts of the case, and was liable to be interfered with. The Single Bench must not have allowed the writ petition at the admission stage without hearing all the necessary parties, it said.

The math said that without impleading the appellant as a party, filing the writ petition for the purpose of registering the property of the math was improper and illegal. The sale deed was executed between the parties as if a private trust property was sold. Allowing the writ petition behind the appellant’s back was improper, it added.

The math said the Single Bench should have considered how the petitioner suppressed the fact that the possession of the property was in the the Thakkar’s hands. Hence, permitting to register the sale deed would create unnecessary trouble.

Meanwhile, Justin Manikandan Subramanian, the Sub-Registrar (in-charge) who registered the document, moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. He has been suspended. He said he had completed the process of registration on the basis of the order passed by the High Court. The Registration Department has also placed District Registrar Sasikala under suspension.

Justice K. Rajasekar sought the response of the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department and posted the matter for hearing to July 17.