M.Thangaraj v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 08.07.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3741 of 2026:- M.Thangaraj ... Petitioner Vs.

¶1The District Collector, Dindigul Collector Office, Dindigul District.

¶2The Revenue Divisional Officer, Palani, Dindigul District.

¶3The Tahsildar, Gujiliamparai Taluk, Dindigul District.

¶4The Inspector of Police, Gujiliamparai Police Station, Gujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

¶5S.Thiruvengadam

¶6T.Mariappan

¶7T.Sri Rengan

¶8M.Marippan

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing calling for the records pertaining to the order passed by the 3rd respondent Na.Ka.No.04/2026/a1 dated 01.07.2026 and quash the same as illegal and subsequently directing the respondents 1 to 3 to issue permission to the petitioner to conduct festival at Sri Mariamman and Sri Bhagavathi Amman Temple situated in Kottanatham Village, Gujiliamparai Taluk, as per the old customs followed by the village people. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Arunnithy For Respondents : Ms.M.R.Priyanka Jothi (R2) Government Advocate (Civil) Mr.D.Rajaboopathy (R1, R3 & R4) Government Advocate (Crl.) W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3748 of 2026:- S.Thiruvengadam ... Petitioner Vs.

¶1The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

¶2The Inspector of Police, Gujiliamparai Police Station, Gujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

¶3The Sub Inspector of Police, Gujiliyamparai Police Station, Gujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

¶4The Tahsildar, Gujiliyamparai Taluk, Gujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

¶5Thangaraj

¶6Thiruvengadam

¶7Mariappan

¶8Mariappan @ Thalavetti

¶9Senthilkumar

10.Mariappan @ Mottaiyan

11.Ramesh

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 4 grant permission to the petitioner and other villagers to conduct temple festival schedule to be held on 10.07.2026, (Veedu Sattuthal), on 17.06.2026 to

19.07.2026 namely Sri Mariamman, Sri Bagavathiamman Temples situated at Kottanatham Village, Servaikaranpatti, Gujiliyamparai Taluk, Dindigul District, based upon the petitioner's representation dated 03.07.2026, within stipulated time fixed by this Court by providing necessary police protection for celebration of temple festival. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Gokulraj For Respondents : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy (R1 to R3) Government Advocate (Crl.) Ms.M.R.Priyanka Jothi (R4) Government Advocate (Civil) COMMON ORDER The writ petitions in WP Crl.(MD)Nos.3741 & 3748 of 2026 have been filed by different persons. The petitioner in WP Crl.(MD)No.3741 of 2026 claimed himself to be the Naattamai of Thozhipatti Village, Dindigul District. The petitioner in WP Crl.(MD)No.3748 of 2026 has been filed by one of the Kothukarars of Sri Mariamman, Sri Bagavathiamman Temples situated at Kottanatham Village, Servaikaranpatti, Gujiliyamparai Taluk, Dindigul District (hereinafter referred to as the 'subject temple').

¶2The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners jointly submitted that the subject temple is collectively worshipped by devotees belonging to six villages, represented by four Kothukarars, namely, Mr. Thangaraj, Mr. Ashok, Mr. Thiruvengadam, and Mr. Sekar, representing (i) Servaikaranpudur and Paaraiyur, (ii) Senaipatti, (iii) Vaskapalayam Pudur and Mettukalathur, and (iv) Narasingapuram, respectively. According to the learned counsel, it is the responsibility of the said four Kothukarars to collect the temple tax from all the six villages and thereafter organise the temple festival.

¶3It was further submitted that differences arose among the various parties, pursuant to which W.P.(Crl.)(MD) Nos.3527, 3546 and 3582 of 2026 came to be filed before this Court. By a common order, this Court directed the jurisdictional Tahsildar to convene a peace committee meeting to facilitate the peaceful conduct of the festival in the subject temple. In compliance with the said direction, the jurisdictional Tahsildar conducted a peace committee meeting under proceedings in Na.Ka.No.04/2026/A1, dated 03.07.2026, wherein all the stakeholders participated. A consensus was ultimately arrived at, and it was resolved that Saami Satruthal ceremony would be conducted on

03.07.2026 and that the temple festival would be held on 10.07.2026 and

12.07.2026.

¶4The present petitions have been filed on the ground that the time available for organising the temple festival in a grand and proper manner is insufficient. Since all the parties have jointly approached this Court and expressed their consensus, they have sought the indulgence of this Court to extend the schedule by one more week to enable them to make the necessary arrangements for the successful conduct of the temple festival.

¶5In this regard, the Saami Satruthal ceremony shall be conducted jointly by all the concerned parties, including the petitioners in both the writ petitions, along with the other two Kothukarars, namely, (i) Mr. Ashok, representing Senaipatti, and (ii) Mr. Sekar, representing Narasingapuram. The said four Kothukarars are jointly directed to organise the temple festival and the Saami Satruthal programme. They shall be entitled to collect the requisite temple taxes from all the six villages for the purpose of meeting the expenses of the festival. It is made clear that the residents and devotees of all the six villages shall extend their full cooperation to the four Kothukarars in the successful and peaceful conduct of the Saami Satruthal ceremony and the temple festival.

¶6It is made clear that all the four Kothukarars, together with the petitioner in W.P.(Crl.)(MD) No.3741 of 2026, shall collectively plan and organise the temple festival by utilising the temple tax collected by the Kothukarars and shall ensure that the festival is concluded peacefully, harmoniously, and without any untoward incident.

¶7It is further made clear that this Court, by order dated 30.06.2026 passed in W.P.(Crl.)(MD) No.3582 of 2026 relating to the very same temple, had categorically directed that none of the parties shall claim any first honours in connection with the temple festival. The said direction shall be scrupulously followed. All devotees shall participate in the Kaapu Kattudhal ceremony by adorning their wrists with yellow thread and turmeric alone. No person shall deviate from the said practice by using threads of any other colour representing or identifying any particular community.

¶8It is also made clear that, in the event the temple festival is not conducted in letter and spirit in accordance with the directions contained in this order as well as the earlier order dated 30.06.2026, strict action will be taken as against the four Kothukarars and the petitioner in W.P.(Crl.)(MD) No.3741 of 2026, who shall be personally responsible for ensuring strict compliance with these directions. The respondent police is directed to afford necessary police protection, subject to payment of the requisite fees in terms of G.O. Ms. No. 139, Home (Pol-VIII) Department, dated 04.03.2019.

¶9With the above observations, these writ petitions stand disposed of.

08.07.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No sm Note: Issue order copy on 09.07.2026.

L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J. Sm TO:-

¶1The District Collector, Dindigul Collector Office, Dindigul District.

¶2The Revenue Divisional Officer, Palani, Dindigul District.

¶3The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

¶4The Tahsildar, Gujiliamparai Taluk, Dindigul District.

¶5The Inspector of Police, Gujiliamparai Police Station, Gujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

¶6The Sub Inspector of Police, Gujiliyamparai Police Station, Gujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

¶7The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. Common Order made in Dated

08.07.2026