Thiyagarajan v. The District Collector ,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 27-07-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI WP Crl.(MD) Nos. 3812 and 4100 of 2026 WP Crl.(MD) No. 3812 of 2026 Thiyagarajan Petitioner(s) Vs

1.The District Collector, O/o. Collector Office, Karur District.

2.Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o. Kulitahalai Revenue Divisional Office, Karur District.

3.The Tahsildar, O/o. Krishnarayapuram, Karur District.

4.The Superintendent of Police, Karur District.

5.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kulithalai Sub-Division, Karur District.

6.The Inspector of Police, Mayanur Police Station, Karur District.

7.Mathialagan

8.Sekar

9.Masi

10.Vasudevan

11.Jayakumar

12.Durairaj

13.Vadivel

14.Kanthasamy

15.Palaniyappan

16.Murali

17.Mani

18.Prakash

19.Kurusami

20.Subbaiyan

21.Parthiban

22.Mahaligam Respondent(s) For Petitioner : Mr.Savari Prakash S For R1 to R3 : M/s.M.R.Priyanka Jothi Government Advocate (Civil Side) For R4 to R6 : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For R15 to R18 & R20 to R22 : Mr.S.Vishnuvardhan Prayer: To issue a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 4 to 6 to provide adequate and effective police protection to the petitioner to enable him to peacefully perform the customary religious duties as Malayali samiyaadi in Arulmigu Sri Bagavathi Amman Tample, situated at Krishnarayapuram Village, Karur District, during the ensuing temple festival and on all customary occasions, without any unlawful interference, obstructions, intimidation or threat from respondents 7 to 22 or anybody acting through or under them and consequently direct the respondents 4 to 6 to maintain law and order in an around the temple during such occasions, to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 03.07.2026 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court. WP Crl.(MD) No. 4100 of 2026 Mathialagan Petitioner(s) Vs

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

¶2The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kulithalai, Karur District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Mayanoor Police Station, Karur District.

5.Thiyagarajan Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Mr.S.Vishnuvardhan For R1 to R3 : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For R4 : Mr.P.Sethupathi Prayer: To issue a writ or direction more particularly in the nature of a WRIT OF MANDAMUS, directing the 3rd respondent to grant permission to conduct temple festival in the Sri Bhagavathi Temple festival going to held on 26.07.2026 to 29.07.2026, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 14.07.2026. COMMON ORDER The learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.Crl.(MD) No.4100 of 2026 submitted that permission has already been granted and that the temple festival is going on.

¶2W.P.Crl.(MD) No.3812 of 2026 has been filed by one Thiyagarajan seeking permission to perform the divine dance ("Samiyadal") on 29.07.2026 during the same temple festival.

¶3The learned Government Advocate submitted that though the petitioner in W.P.Crl.(MD).No.3812 of 2026 had been performing "Samiyadal" in the temple festival in earlier years, owing to certain disputes that had arisen in the temple administration during the year 2025, all the village people gathered together and did not permit him to perform "Samiyadal" during the festival held last year.

¶4In this regard, a meeting was conducted on 14.06.2026, in which the villagers participated. Based on the majority decision of the villagers, one Mahalingam was appointed to perform the divine dance ("Samiyadal") during the temple festival.

¶5It is only in view of the above decision that the petitioner claims that he has been excommunicated from participating in the temple festival.

¶6Heard both sides and carefully perused the materials available on record.

¶7In view of the majority decision of the villagers, the Temple Administration Committee has resolved that one Mahalingam shall perform the "Swamiyadal" on 27.09.2026. If at all Thiyagarajan claims any right to perform the said ritual, it is for him to approach the competent Civil Court for appropriate relief, if so advised.

¶8Insofar as the conduct of the temple festival is concerned, the festival has already commenced and shall be permitted to continue and conclude peacefully.

¶9In view of the above, the respondent police are directed to provide adequate police protection for the conduct of the temple festival and to facilitate one Mahalingam in performing the "Samiyadal" during the festival. It is made clear that neither Thiyagarajan nor any other person shall be prevented or excluded from participating in any of the temple festival functions or from worshipping the deity, subject to the maintenance of peace and law and order.

¶10With the above directions, these writ petitions are disposed of. 27-07-2026 tta (Note : Issue order copy on 27.07.2026) To

1.The District Collector, O/o. Collector Office, Karur District.

2.Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o. Kulitahalai Revenue Divisional Office, Karur District.

3.The Tahsildar, O/o. Krishnarayapuram, Karur District.

4.The Superintendent of Police, Karur District.

5.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kulithalai Sub-Division, Karur District.

6.The Inspector of Police, Mayanur Police Station, Karur District. L. VICTORIA GOWRI, J tta ORDER IN WP Crl.(MD) Nos. 3812 and 4100 of 2026 Date : 27/07/2026