V. Murugan v. The District Collector

ORDER Seeking to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take action against the 5th respondent for excommunicating the petitioner and his family members from worshipping in the temple festival of Sri Arulmigu Bhagavathy Amman, Sri Murugan and Sri Vinayagar temple, Komalipatti, Pannapatti Village, Kadavoor Taluk, Karur District, based on the petitioner's representation dated 27.10.2025, this writ petition is filed.

¶2The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that on several occasions the temple festivals were conducted since the temple belonged to the general public and the same was also constructed by the funds of all the villagers, and the consecration of the temple was also conducted by the funds collected from all the villagers. The fund collected from the villagers for the temple is known as Thalaikattuvari. However, when the temple festival was announced on 01.12.2025, in terms of the common decision of the villagers, the respondent No.5, who is the village Nattamai, blatantly refused to receive Thalaikattuvari from the petitioner and also hindered the petitioner's and his family's participation in the temple festival, excommunicating him for the sole reason that the petitioner had married a woman from another community.

¶3On 24.10.2025, when the petitioner had paid Thalaikattuvari of Rs.15,000/-, the 5th respondent had refused to receive the same and had also entered in a verbal altercation with the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner had made a representation to the respondents 1 to 4 in this regard. However, the same was not considered. In the meanwhile, the temple festival is also over.

¶4The learned Government Advocate Mr.S.S.Manoj submitted that all the indifferences were resolved by the interference of the 4th respondent police and the petitioner as well as the 5th respondent, and all the villagers amicably settled their disputes and have conducted the function on 01.12.2025 without any permissions.

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

¶6It is made clear that even in the future, by all means, the 5th respondent should not excommunicate the petitioner and his family from participating in or giving Thalaikattuvari to the temple festival in the future.

¶7With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of.

03.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No Sml

To

¶1The District Collector, District Collectorate, Karur District.

¶2The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Kulithalai, Karur District.

¶3The Tahsildhar, Kadavoor Taluk, Karur District.

¶4The Inspector of Police, Thogaimalai Police Station, Karur District.

¶5The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.

Sml W.P.Crl.(MD)No.2271 of 2025

03.03.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 03.03.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI W.P.Crl.(MD).No.2271 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD)No.531 of 2025 V.Murugan .... Petitioner Vs. 1.The District Collector, District Collectorate, Karur District. 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Kulithalai, Karur District. 3.The Tahsildhar, Kadavoor Taluk, Karur District. 4.The Inspector of Police, Thogaimalai Police Station, Karur District. 5.Kanniyappan ...Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents No.1 to 4 to take action against the 5th respondent for excommunicate the petitioner and his family members for worshipping the temple festival of Sri Arulmigu Bhagavathy Amman, Sri Murugan and Sri Vinayagar temple, Komalipatti, Pannapatti Village, Kadavoor Taluk, Karur District, based on the petitioner's representation dated 27.10.2025. For Petitioner : Mr. B.Prasanna Vinoth For R-1 to R-3 : Mr.M.Muthumanickkam Government Advocate (Civil) For R-4 : Mr.S.S.Manoj Government Advocate (Crl.Side)