K.Ramachandran v. The State of Tamilnadu Rep by

ORDER The Writ Petition is filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 7 to ensure equality among all the Mandagapadithars and communities by downing the flag only after completion of the petitioner's Mandagapadi during the 11th day festival on 31.05.2026.

¶2The apprehension of the petitioner is that, merely because the Mandagapadi belongs to persons who are wrongly considered to be from the lower strata of society, certain persons, who mistakenly consider themselves to belong to the higher strata of society, create skirmishes by lowering the flag even before the Mandagapadi is completed. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.

¶3When the matter came up for hearing, the learned Special Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents 3 to 6 submitted that, even during the years 2024 and 2025, due steps were taken to ensure that the Mandagapadi was completed before the flag was downed.

¶4It is further submitted that, this year also, the Mandagapadi belonging to the petitioner and others will be duly conducted and thereafter only the flag will be lowered.

¶5Recording the said submissions, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.

20.05.2026 NCC : No smn2 To:-

1.The Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram.

2.The Inspector of Police, Nainar Kovil Police Station,

3.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram.

4.The Tahsildar, Paramakudi Taluk,

5.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Sivagangai.

6.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai. D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY

, J.

smn2

20.05.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 20.05.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY K.Ramachandran ... Petitioner -vs- 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. By The Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram. 2.The Inspector of Police, Nainar Kovil Police Station, 3.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram. 4.The Tahsildar, Paramakudi Taluk, 5.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Sivagangai. 6.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai. 7.S.Kumarasamy Pattar, S/o.N.Subramaniya Pattar, Hereditary Trustee, Arulmigu Koluvoor Jaari Devasthanam, Sri Naganatha Swamy Temple, 8.A.Muruganantham .. Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 7 to ensure the equality among all Mandagapadithars and communities by downing the flag after completion of the petitioner's Mandagapadi on 11th day of festival dated 31.05.2026 along with adequate Police Protection in the light of the orders passed by this Court in the Writ Petitions in W.P.(MD)No.11184 of 2024 dated 22.05.2024 and W.P.(MD)No.15228 of 2025 dated 04.06.2025 and based on the petitioner's representations dated 11.05.2026 and 15.05.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Shankar Ganesh For R1 and R2 : Mr.T.Senthil Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor For R3 to R6 : Mr.D.Ghandiraj Special Government Pleader