Mandla did not attend court on Friday. His spokesperson Chabo Pilusa said the chief was on his way to the Eastern Cape ANC's provincial conference at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.
Two years ago, Mandla moved the remains to Mvezo, Mandela's birthplace.
The Herald reported on Friday that Mandla's attorneys indicated he would not oppose the application.
Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet has also sent her legal representatives to protect her interests. Although details have not yet been released, it is understood she is also cited as a respondent.
The City Press on Friday reported the lawyer acting for the family, advocate Wesley Hayes, who also represents Mandla's estranged wife Mabhulu Mandela in their divorce proceedings, confirmed that 16 family members brought the interdict to the high court.
"Yes, I have been instructed by the family to take action against Mandla," Hayes said, while confirming that the applicants included Makaziwe, Zenani, Ndileka and Ndaba Mandela.
According to City Press, Hayes did not want to get into the details of the application, but confirmed that Mandla, the premier's office of the Eastern Cape, and the province's minister of health were the respondents.
"It's a long list of the family bringing this application against these three respondents," he said.