Paranthaman v. The District Collector

ORDER The writ petition seeks to quash the proceedings of the 4th respondent in refusing to provide police protection to the petitioner for conduct of the Temple festival of Sri Sakthi Mariamman Temple, Kattukollimedu Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Tiruvallur District.

2.The petitioner states that in the Tamil Month of Mo, they have gpuk;nkhw;rtk; and jPkpjp cw;rtk; at the Sri Sakthi Mariamman Temple. The petitioner claims that extensive arrangements have been made for celebrating these two festivals in a grand manner. One of the ingredients of these two festivals is the deity Car Procession, which the petitioner claims, would be plied on the highway and roads. The petitioner had applied for police protection to the 4th respondent. The said application was rejected. Hence, the present writ petition.

3.It is the plea of the petitioner that there was a minor incident on

22.07.2026 between the villagers of Kattukollimedu and Yelavur, which resulted in the rejection of the application seeking permission. He states, on account of the order passed by the 4th respondent in refusing to grant police protection, the fundamental right of the petitioner to offer worship under Article 25 of the Constitution stood violated. He states that the impugned order has been passed to suit the convenience of the 5th respondent.

4.When the writ petition came up for admission, Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar, Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Crl.Side) took notice for respondents 1 to 4 and Mr.R.Vijayakumar entered appearance for the 5th respondent.

5.Mr.R.Vijayakumar pleaded that Sri Sakthi Mariamman Temple of Kattukollimedu Village is situated 1 km from the Yelavur village and there is no necessity to bring the Deity from Kattukollimedu to Yelavur for the purpose of celebrating either gpuk;nkhw;rtk; or jPkpjp cw;rtk; festival. He sought time to file counter. The matter was listed today and the counter has also been filed.

6.Perusal of the affidavit and counter affidavit indicates that the primary reason why the two festivals cannot be held simultaneously, namely on

16.08.2026, is that if the two car processions were to encounter each other, it will result not only in difficulty for the worshipping public, but also to the police officials, who have to offer police protection, to ensure that both the festivals are carried out without any untoward incident.

7.Therefore, this Court suggested to Mr.Leeban Arivalagan and Mr.R.Vijayakumar to have their Car Procession on separate days. They requested the matter to be kept back so that they can get instructions from their clients. When the matter was taken up post lunch, Mr.Leeban Arivalagan states that the petitioner is willing to have the Car Procession festival on 17.08.2026 and Mr.R.Vijayakumar states that the 5th respondent is willing to celebrate the Car Procession festival on 16.08.2026.

8.As both the parties have agreed to have their celebrations on separate days, all that this Court can do is to record the understanding entered between them.

9.Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of in the following terms:-

(i)The petitioner shall conduct their Car Procession festival of Sri Sakthi Mariamman Temple at Kattukollimedu Village on

17.08.2026 between 06.00 PM to 12.00 AM.

(ii)The 5th respondent shall celebrate the festival of Sri Sakthi Mariamman Temple situated at Yelavur Village on 16.08.2026 between 06.00 PM to 12.00 AM.

(iii)The police shall afford adequate protection to the respective parties on the aforesaid dates. It shall ensure that the above festivals do not exceed the time limit agreed to by the parties. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs. 14-08-2026 krk Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes NOTE: Upload order copy on 14.08.2026. To

1.The District Collector Tiruvallur District, District Collectorate Office, Tiruvallur.

2.The Superintendent of Police(SP) - Tiruvallur District O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Tiruvallur.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer Taluk Office Road, NGO Nagar Extension, Ponneri - 601204.

4.The Inspector of Police F-3, Arambakkam Police Station, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Tiruvallur District.

5.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai. V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN J. krk WP Crl. No. 2057 of 2026 and WPMP.Crl.No.747 of 2026

14-08-2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 14-08-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN and WPMP.Crl.No.747 of 2026 1. Paranthaman S/o.Ranganathan Reddy, Temple Administrator, Sri Sakthi Mariamman Temple, Kattukollimedu Village, Yelaavur Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Tiruvallur District - 601201. Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The District Collector Tiruvallur District, District Collectorate Office, Tiruvallur. 2.The Superintendent of Police(SP) - Tiruvallur District O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Tiruvallur. 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer Taluk Office Road, NGO Nagar Extension, Ponneri - 601204. 4.The Inspector of Police F-3, Arambakkam Police Station, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Tiruvallur District. 5.Shanmugam Elavur Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Tiruvallur District. Respondent(s) PRAYER To issue a Writ of certiorarified mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, call for the records of the 4th Respondent vide impugned order dated 04.08.2026 and Quash the same as illegal and unconstitutional and consequently direct the Respondents 1 to 4 to provide adequate Police Protection for conducting the temple festival, including the temple car procession and all allied religious rituals of Sri Sakthi Mariyamman Koil, through the public road based on the order of the 3rd Respondent vide Na.Ka.No.232/2026/B1 dated 17.07.2026 without any obstruction from 5th Respondent or any other persons and further direct the Respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate preventive and coercive action, in accordance with law against 5th respondent or any other persons who attempt to unlawfully obstruct the peaceful conduct of the said festival and procession and pass such further or other orders. For Petitioner(s): Mr.Leeban Arivalagan For Respondent(s): Mr.S. Yogaraja Sekar, Counsel for the Govt. of Tamil Nadu (Crl. Side) for R1 to R4 Mr.R.Vijayakumar for R5