A.Dhaveethu v. The District Collector

O R D E R Heard both sides.

¶2The writ petitioner is a permanent resident of Panipulanvayal Village, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 4 W.P.(MD)NO.15084 OF 2015 The petitioner professes Christianity. His forefathers however belonged to SC community. The allegation of the petitioner is that the local church is indulging in caste discrimination. When the petitioner protested, he faced social boycott. That led to the filing of this writ petition.

¶3This writ petition was filed in the year 2015. We are now in August 2023. I wanted to know if the petitioner is still facing any subsisting grievances. Thereupon, the petitioner's counsel filed the memo alleging that the Dalit Christians are facing discrimination in the matter of Baptism, collection of tax, announce Banns for marriage and first holy communion.

¶4The learned counsel appearing for the church vehemently denied the the allegations. The categorical stand of the church is that they are ready to cater to the spiritual needs of persons irrespective of their backgound. There is no material placed before me to demonstrate that discriminatory practices are followed by the church. 5 W.P.(MD)NO.15084 OF 2015

¶5Recording the stand of the learned counsel appearing for the church, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

02.08.2023 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No PMU To:

¶1The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.

¶2The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.

¶3The Deputy Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ramnagar, Devakottai, Sivagangai District.

¶4The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Devakottai, Sivagangai District.

¶5The Inspector of Police, Taluk police station, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 6 W.P.(MD)NO.15084 OF 2015 G.R.SWAMINATHAN,J. PMU W.P.(MD)No.15084 of 2015

02.08.2023

1 W.P.(MD)NO.15084 OF 2015 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 02.08.2023 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN W.P.(MD)No.15084 of 2015 AND M.P.(MD)No.1 of 2015 A.Dhaveethu ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai. 2. The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai. 3. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ramnagar, Devakottai, Sivagangai District. 4. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Devakottai, Sivagangai District. 5. The Inspector of Police, Taluk police station, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 6. Rev. Mariya Asir, Parish Priest, St. Sahaya Matha temple, Devakottai, Sivagangai District. 2 W.P.(MD)NO.15084 OF 2015 7. A.Rex 8. Y.Manickam 9. Sebasthiyan 10.S.Arockiyasamy 11.S.Sebasthiyan 12.S.Joseph 13.Arockiyasamy 14.Arul 15.Arul 16.Suvakkeen 17.S.Sebasthiyan 18.Arockiyaraj 19.T.Alosiyas 20.A.Sekar 21.P.Veneesh 22.A.Saminathan 23.Selvaraj 24.John (R-7 to R-24 are impleaded vide order dated 11.07.2023 in W.M.P.(MD)No.2 of 2015) ... Respondents Prayer: Writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing 3 W.P.(MD)NO.15084 OF 2015 the respondent No. 1 to issue a direction, directing the respondent Nos. 2 to 5 to take necessary action against the respondent No.6, who is following Social Boycott and discrimination against the petitioner and his villagers in the name of Caste System and consequently direct the respondent Nos.1 to 5 to take necessary action to enable the petitioner and his villagers to have privileges and participation rights like other of Non-dalit Chrishtians in St.Sahaya Matha Temple and its allied festivals situated at Devakottai, Sivagangai District. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Rajasekar For R-1 to R-5 : Mr.N.Satheesh Kumar, Additional Government Pleader. For R-6 : Mr.T.Cibi Chakrabarthy For R-7 to R-24 : Mr.K.N.Govardhanan, for Mr.S.Poornachandran * * *