S.Ramalingam v. The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by Its the Superintendent of Police

ORDER This petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the respondents herein to grant permission to the temple festival held on 17.07.2026 in pursuant to the Kuthirai Yeduppu Festival in Arulmighu Sri Chetty Ayyanar Temple situated at between North Parapatti and Maringipatti Village, Thennathiraiyanpatti, Balandanpatti Panjayat, Klathur Taluk, Pudukottai District, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 30.06.2026.

¶2The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is one of the temple committee members of Arulmighu Sri Chetty Ayyanar Temple situated at between North Parapatti and Maringipatti Village, Thennathiraiyanpatti, Balandanpatti Panjayat, Klathur Taluk, Pudukottai District. The representatives of the devotees from all these five villages, namely, Maringipatti, Thennathiraiyanpatti, Mettupatti, Ettukaalpatti, together have formed the temple festival committee and had organized to conduct the temple festival on 17.07.2026. However, the people from Kurukkathanpatti village are creating trouble in conducting the temple festival peacefully, more particularly in the Kuthirai Yeduppu Festival (Puravi Eduppu Festival) in the aforesaid temple festival. In this regard, the petitioner has given a representation on 30.06.2026 to grant permission for the aforesaid temple festival. However, the same is not considered and hence this petition came to be filed.

¶3The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondent police submitted that the third respondent police had already convened a peace committee meeting by summoning the representatives of the five villages, namely, Kurukkathanpatti, Maringipatti, Thennathiraiyanpatti, Mettupatti and Ettukaalpatti, with a view to facilitate the conduct of a common temple festival by all the villagers. However, the peace committee meeting had almost failed. It was further submitted that the third respondent police is proposing to refer the matter to the jurisdictional Tahsildar for convening a peace committee meeting in an endeavour to resolve the dispute amicably.

¶4One Mr.B.Anandan, learned counsel submitted that he is represented by the people of Kurukkathanpatti village. In fact, the aforesaid temple is situated only in Kurukkathanpatti village and not between North Parapatti and Maringipatti Village. The villages of the temple committee, having excluded the devotees of Kurukkathanpatti, are trying to conduct the aforesaid temple festival. All the other four villages, as many as 600 families are living in Kurukkathanpatti village, who are very much part of the devotees of the aforesaid temple and they should also be permitted to participate in the aforesaid temple festival.

¶5Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that, owing to disputes between the villagers of Kurukkathanpatti and the other four villages, the temple festival has, for the past three years, been conducted separately. According to him, the villagers of Maringipatti, Thennathiraiyanpatti, Mettupatti and Ettukaalpatti have been jointly conducting the festival on one day, whereas the villagers of Kurukkathanpatti have been celebrating it independently on a different day. It was further submitted that, only with a view to thwarting the proposed festival organised by the petitioner's Temple Festival Committee, the villagers of Kurukkathanpatti are now seeking permission to participate in the festival conducted by the other four villages. Therefore, he sought the indulgence of this Court to direct the villagers of Kurukkathanpatti to celebrate their festival separately in another day.

¶6Heard the learned counsel on either sides and carefully perused the materials placed before this Court.

¶7It is seen that the third respondent police had already convened a peace committee meeting amongst all the villagers, with a view to facilitate the conduct of a common temple festival by all the villagers. However, the peace committee meeting did not yield the desired result. Now, the third respondent police is proposing to refer the matter to the jurisdictional Tahsildar for convening a peace committee meeting in an endeavour to resolve the dispute amicably.

¶8However, the submissions made on behalf of the petitioner as well as the counsel representing the village of Kurukkathanpatti would make it clear that even if a peace committee is conducted by the jurisdictional Tahsildar, proper consensus could not be arrived at even facilitating the temple festival of all the villages together on 17.07.2026.

¶9In view of the above, the respondent police are directed to grant the necessary permission to the petitioner's temple festival committee, representing the villages of Maringipatti, Thennathiraiyanpatti, Mettupatti and Ettukaalpatti, to conduct the Kuthirai Yeduppu (Puravi Eduppu) festival in the aforesaid temple on 17.07.2026.

¶10It is made clear that no devotee, irrespective of the village to which he or she belongs, shall be prevented from participating in the temple festival, its connected rituals and ceremonies, or from worshipping the deity. It is further made clear that none of the committee members or villagers shall claim any first honour or preferential privilege during the conduct of the festival.

¶11It is open to the villagers of Kurukkathanpatti to constitute a separate temple festival committee and fix a separate date for conducting the aforesaid temple festival on their behalf. On the date of such festival, the devotees belonging to the other four villages shall likewise not be prevented from participating in the festival and worshipping the deity.

¶12With the above directions, this writ petition stands disposed of.

08.07.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No sm Note: Issue order copy on 16.07.2026. TO:-

¶1The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai District.

¶2The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Illuppur Sub Division, Illuppur, Pudukottai District.

¶3The Inspector of Police, Keeranur Police Station, Keeranur, Pudukottai District.

¶4The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J. Sm Dated

08.07.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 08.07.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI S.Ramalingam ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The State of Tamilnadu, Rep By the Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai District. 2. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Illuppur Sub Division, Illuppur, Pudukottai District. 3. The Inspector of Police, Keeranur Police Station, Keeranur, Pudukottai District. ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein to grant permission to the temple festival held on 17.07.2026 in pursuant to the Kuthirai Yeduppu Festival in Arulmighu Sri Chetty Ayyanar Temple situated at between North Parapatti and Maringipatti Village, Thennathiraiyanpatti, Balandanpatti Panjayat, Klathur Taluk, Pudukottai District, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 30.06.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sathyachidambaram For Respondents : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy Government Advocate (Crl.) Mr.B.Anandan (for proposed respondent (Kurukkathanpatti Village)