CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the HR&CE Commissioner and the Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer attached to Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Srirangam, Tiruchy, to return Rs 22 lakh to P M Ramasamy, who deposited Rs 27 lakh for taking on auction a prasadam stall in the temple.The First Bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice KBK Vasuki, which gave the direction on August 22 last while closing a miscellaneous petition arising out of a writ appeal from Ramasamy, also set aside a resolution banning him from participating in future auctions to be conducted in the temples in Tamil Nadu.The appellant participated in the auction held for running a prasadam stall during 2009. In all, he had deposited Rs 27 lakh against the total bid of amount of Rs 52 lakh. As he had defaulted in paying the balance amount in instalments, the temple authorities cancelled the contract given to Ramasamy and allotted the same to another person. The authorities had also forfeited the entire sum of Rs 27 lakh.Closing the petition, the Bench permitted the authorities to forfeit a part amount of Rs 5 lakh and directed them to return the balance amount of Rs 22 lakh to the petitioner within four weeks.
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