V. Karunanithi v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 07.08.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI and W.M.P.Crl.(MD)No.1063 of 2026 W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4425 of 2026: V.Karunanithi ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, District Collectorate, Ramanathapuram District.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, RDO Office, Ramanathapuram District.

3.The Tahsildar, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

4.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thiruvadanai Range, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

5.The Inspector of Police, Thiruvadanai Police Station, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 4th and 5th respondents to provide adequate police protection for conducting Avani Month Thiruvizha at the Arulmigu Periyanayagi Amman and Karuppar Temple's situated at Thottamangalam Village, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Ramanathapuram from

20.08.2026 to 29.08.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated

31.07.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Paramasivam For R1 – R3 : M/s.M.R.Priyanka Jothi Government Advocate (Civil) For R4 – R5 : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy Government Advocate (Crl.) W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4481 of 2026: Karupaiah ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram District.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Ramanathapuram, Ramanathapuram District.

3.The Tahsildar, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.

4.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District.

5.The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

6.The Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District.

7.The Inspector of Police, Thiruvadanai Police Station, Ramanathapuram District.

8.Gunasekaran

9.Mahalingam

10.Karunanithi

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 6 and 7 to ensure that the petitioner, along with the other villagers, is permitted to celebrate the Aavani Festival at Shri Periyanayagi Amman and Shri Pathinettanpadi Karuppar Temple, situated at Thottamangalam Village, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Ramanathapuram District, scheduled to commence on 21.08.2026 with tying of Kaapu and concluding in the main festival on 28.08.2026 and consequently direct the official respondents to ensure that the villagers are permitted to enter the said temple, offer worship by following their customary rituals and perform daily poojas under the supervision of the 5th respondent, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 01.08.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Vinodh For R1 – R5 : M/s.M.R.Priyanka Jothi Government Advocate (Civil) For R6 – R7 : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy Government Advocate (Crl.) For R10 : Mr.Jerin Mathew for Mr.M.Paramasivam COMMON ORDER W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4425 is filed seeking to direct the 4th and 5th respondents to provide adequate police protection for conducting Avani Month Thiruvizha at the Arulmigu Periyanayagi Amman and Karuppar Temple's situated at Thottamangalam Village, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Ramanathapuram from 20.08.2026 to 29.08.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 31.07.2026.

¶2W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4481 is filed seeking to direct the respondents 6 and 7 to ensure that the petitioner, along with the other villagers, is permitted to celebrate the Aavani Festival at Shri Periyanayagi Amman and Shri Pathinettanpadi Karuppar Temple, situated at Thottamangalam Village, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Ramanathapuram District, scheduled to commence on

21.08.2026 with tying of Kaapu and concluding in the main festival on

28.08.2026 and consequently direct the official respondents to ensure that the villagers are permitted to enter the said temple, offer worship by following their customary rituals and perform daily poojas under the supervision of the 5th respondent, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 01.08.2026.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4481 of 2026 submitted that by order dated 20.02.2026, the Tahsildar, Thiruvadanai Taluk had unnecessarily appointed two persons, namely Mr.Mahalingam s/o. Athimoolam and Mr.Nayagam s/o. Subbiah as poosaris for conducting the aforesaid festival. However, the villagers are unhappy about the said decision and they anticipate unruly consequences, if they are permitted to perform the temple festival as poosari. In this regard, it is it is submitted before this Court that any person unconnected to the said village may be nominated for conducting poojas as poosari exclusive for this particular function.

¶4The petitioner in W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4425 of 2026 is fully satisfied with the order passed by the Tahsildar and both the persons as nominated by the Tahsildar shall be permitted to conduct the temple festival.

¶5Heard the learned counsels on either side and carefully perused the materials available on record.

¶6In view of the above, this Court hereby direct the 2nd respondent to appoint poosari from any village unconnected to the Thottamangalam Village exclusively for the purpose of conducting Aavani Festival at Shri Periyanayagi Amman and Shri Pathinettanpadi Karuppar Temple, situated at Thottamangalam Village, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Ramanathapuram District, scheduled to be commenced on 21.08.2026. It is made clear that the temple festival will be conducted under the supervision of the Inspector of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thiruvadanai. Since several petitions are pending regarding the administration of the temple before various Courts, the respondent police is director to monitor the festival.

¶7With the above directions, both the Writ Petitions stand disposed of. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition stands dismissed.

07.08.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No gbg TO:-

1.The District Collector, District Collectorate, Ramanathapuram District.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, RDO Office, Ramanathapuram District.

3.The Tahsildar, Thiruvadanai Taluk, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

4.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District.

5.The Inspector, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

6.The Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District.

7.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thiruvadanai Range, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

8.The Inspector of Police, Thiruvadanai Police Station, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District.

9.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. W.P.Crl.(MD)Nos.4425o&o4481oofo2026 L.VICTORIAoGOWRI,oJ. gbg Orderomadeoin W.P.Crl.(MD)Nos.4425o&o4481oofo2026 Dated

07.08.2026