J.Yoga Sanmugasundaram v. The District Collector

ORDER This writ petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the respondents 1 to 5 to take appropriate action against the 6th respondent and his men for excommunicating the petitioners' family from the village and take steps to receive "Thalaikattu Vari" from the petitioners' family for the temple festival of Arulmighu Muthumari Amman and other temples situate in Pachalur village, Kulathur Post, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkottai District for this year and also in future, by considering the petitioners' representation dated 10.04.2024.

¶2The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the sixth respondent is the person, who had announced himself as a self styled village headman and he had gone to the extent of excommunicating the petitioners' family by not receiving Thalaikattu Vari from the petitioners' family and in this regard, the petitioners have already made a representation dated

10.04.2024. However, the representation was not heeded to by the official respondents. Hence, this petition came to be filed.

¶3The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for R2 & R5 submitted that already the temple festival is over and the representation is also of the year 2024.

¶4The learned counsel appearing for the sixth respondent submitted that there is no excommunication at all. Due to indifference between two groups in the temple administration, a peace committee meeting was conducted by the 3rd respondent on 14.08.2023. Since no compromise was arrived between the two groups during the said meeting, both the parties were directed to approach appropriate Court of law seeking for further remedy.

¶5Heard the learned counsel on either side and carefully perused the materials available on record.

¶6It is made clear that act of excommunicating any person from participating in temple festival would amount to discrimination. Since the temple festival is already over, the matter though has become infructuous, considering the plight of the petitioners, this Court directs the sixth respondent not to excommunicate any person from the subject temple and not to refuse to receive the Thalaikattu Vari to be given by the petitioners, in future.

¶7With the above direction, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

03.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Sm TO:-

¶1The District Collector , Collectorate, Pudukkottai and District.

¶2The Superintendent of Police, Pudukkottai and District.

¶3The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Pudukkottai and District.

¶4The Thasildar, Taluk Office, Aranthangi Taluk,

¶5The Inspector of Police, Aranthangi Police Station, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkotai District.

6.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department,

¶7The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J. Sm Dated

03.03.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 03.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI & W.M.P.(MD)No.9407 of 2024 1.J.Yoga Sanmugasundaram 2.S.Rengasamy 3.S.Subramanian ... Petitioners Vs. 1. The District Collector , Collectorate, Pudukkottai and District. 2. The Superintendent of Police, Pudukkottai and District. 3. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Pudukkottai and District. 4. The Thasildar, Taluk Office, Aranthangi Taluk, 5. The Inspector of Police, Aranthangi Police Station, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkotai District. 6. Suresh 7. The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, ... Respondents (R7 is Suo Motu Impleaded Vide Order Dated.29.04.2024.) . PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 5 to take appropriate action against the 6th respondent and his men for the excommunicating the petitioners' family from the village and take steps to receive "Thalaikattu Vari" from the petitioners' families for the temple festival of Arulmighu Muthumari Amman and other temples situate in Pachalur village, Kulathur Post, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkottai District for this year and also in future, by considering the petitioners' representation dated 10.04.2024. For Petitioners : Mr.R.Paranjothi For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravi (R2 & R5) Additional Public Prosecutor Mr.M.Muthumanickam (R1, R3 & R4) Government Advocate Mr.VR.Shanmuganathan (R6)