M.Govindaraj vs The Superintendent of Police,
- Court
- Madras High Court
WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 14-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K. GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI
WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011463042026}
M.Govindaraj ..Petitioner
Vs
1. The Superintendent of Police,
Virudhunagar District,
Virudhunagar.
2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police,
Thiruchuli Range, Thiruchuli,
Virudhunagar District.
3. The Tahsildar,
Aruppukottai Taluk,
Virudhunagar District.
4. The Inspector of Police,
Thiruchuli Police Station,
Virudhunagar District.
5. The Sub-Inspector of Police,
Paralachi Police Station,
Virudhunagar District.
6. Ayya Murugan ..Respondents
PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of
India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the
nd
records relating to the impugned proceedings of the 2 Respondent dated
22.09.2026 made in Na.Ka.No.23/K.A./T.K.Va/ Thiru/2026 and the
rd
consequential impugned proceeding/communication of the 3
Respondent in Na.Ka.Aa2/ 4836/2018 dated 26.09.2026, insofar as they
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
deny permission to the Petitioner and members of his community to
conduct the Purattasi festival at Sri Pattatharasi Amman Temple, Ayyanar
Temple and Sri Vinayagar Temple at Thoppulakarai Village,
Virudhunagar District, quash the same and consequently direct
Respondents 1 to 5 to grant permission and necessary police protection to
the Petitioner and members of his community to conduct the said
Purattasi festival from 12.10.2026 to 15.10.2026, subject to such
reasonable conditions as may be imposed by this Court or the official
respondents and pass such further or other orders as this Court may deem
fit.
For Petitioner: M/s.D.Srinivasaragavan
For Respondents: M/s.A.Sivasubramanian
Additional Government Pleader
for R1 and R2
M/s.K.Suyambulinga Bharathi
Additional Public Prosecutor
for R3 to R5
Mr.R.Srinivasan for R6
ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of
Certiorarified Mandamus to quash the impugned proceeding dated
nd
22.09.2026 of the 2 respondent, whereby permission was denied to the
petitioner and the members of his community to conduct the Purattasi
festival at Sri Pattatharasi Amman Temple, Ayyanar Temple and Sri
Vinayagar Temple at Thoppulakarai Village, Virudhunagar District and
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
for consequential direction to the respondents 1 to 5 to grant permission
and necessary police protection for conducting the said festival from
12.10.2026 to 15.10.2026.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that,
certain disputes have arisen with regard to worship in Sri Irangi
Muthamman Temple. This Court by order dated 03.08.2026 in WP.Crl.
(MD) Nos. 3980 and 4150 of 2026 directed the parties to establish their
respective rights before the competent forum with regard to their claim
for exclusive worship, and participation in the administration of the said
temple. In so far as the Purattasi festival in Sri Pattatharasi Amman
Temple, Ayyanar Temple and Sri Vinayagar Temples is concerned, the
petitioner's community people have been continuously celebrating the
festival every year after obtaining necessary permission from the official
respondents.
3. His further contention is that this Court in various writ petitions,
permitted the village people to celebrate the temple festival during the
nd
Purattasi month. While so, the 2 respondent rejected the petitioner's
representation dated 10.09.2026 and refused to grant permission on the
ground that this Court had earlier directed the parties to approach the civil
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
court and therefore permission could not be granted to the petitioner's
nd
community people for the Purattasi festival. Thereafter, the 2
respondent himself directed the petitioner to submit a fresh representation
without making any reference to or seek any permission in respect of Sri
Irangi Muthamman Temple. In compliance with the said direction of the
nd
2 respondent, the petitioner has submitted a fresh representation on
25.09.2026, restricting their permission for celebration of the Purattasi
festival at Sri Pattatharasi Amman Temple, Ayyanar Temple and Sri
Vinayagar Temple, without seeking permission in respect of Sri Irangi
Muthamman Temple. Despite the submission of the fresh representation,
no permission has been granted till date. Hence, the petitioner was
constrained to file the present writ petition.
th
4. The said petition was opposed by the 4 respondent, the
Inspector of Police, Thiruchuli Police Station, Virudhunagar District,
rd
stating that based on the communication by the 3 respondent/The
Tahsildar, Aruppukottai Taluk, Virudhunagar District dated 25.09.2026, a
Peace Committee Meeting was convened on 26.09.2026 and since no
rd
consensus could be arrived between the parties, the 3 respondent came
to the conclusion that, there was no possibility of permitting the Purattasi
festival even at Sri Pattatharasi Amman Temple for the present year.
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
th
Further, the 4 respondent issued the proceedings dated 22.09.2026,
bearing Na.Ka.No.23/Ka.Aa/Thi.Ka.Va/Thiru/2026 refusing permission
for the proposed festival and cultural programmes. The said decision was
taken after considering the representation dated 10.09.2026 submitted by
the petitioner, the earlier judicial proceedings, the continuing disputes
between the two groups and the likelihood of a breach of peace. Hence
prayed for dismissal of the writ petition.
th
5. The learned counsel appearing for the 6 respondent would
th
submit that the petitioner and his family members are preventing the 6
respondent and his community members from participating in the festival
and therefore, the petitioner and his family members are not entitled to
conduct the festival and prays for dismissal of the writ petition.
6. Heard. Records perused.
7. Considering the nature of the relief sought and the necessity to
ensure that the festival is conducted peacefully without giving rise to any
law and order problem, this Court is of the view that the festival may be
permitted to be conducted, subject to strict compliance with the following
conditions:
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(i) The festival shall be conducted peacefully, and all the villagers,
irrespective of their caste, community or religious affiliation, shall be
permitted to participate in the festival without any discrimination.
(ii) The conduct of the festival shall not be interfered with by any
political party or its members. No political party shall use the festival as a
platform for political activities or for asserting political supremacy.
(iii) No flex boards, banners or display materials projecting or
glorifying any particular caste or community shall be erected or displayed
in connection with the festival.
(iv) The petitioner, his family members and the rival parties shall
maintain peace and communal harmony and shall not indulge in any act
likely to disturb public peace or create animosity among the villagers.
(v) Neither the writ petitioner nor the rival parties shall take the law
into their own hands under any circumstances. Any dispute arising during
the conduct of the festival shall be brought to the notice of the
jurisdictional police, who shall take appropriate action in accordance with
law.
(vi) The jurisdictional police shall provide necessary police
protection and make appropriate security arrangements to ensure the
peaceful conduct of the festival and to prevent any breach of peace. The
police shall also ensure that no person or group obstructs the participation
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of any villager on the ground of caste or community.
(vii) The petitioner and all persons participating in the festival shall
strictly abide by the lawful directions issued by the police authorities for
maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of the participants.
(viii) In the event of any violation of the above conditions or any
attempt to disturb public peace, the jurisdictional police shall take
necessary action against the persons responsible, strictly in accordance
with law.
8. In view of the above, the impugned proceedings dated
22.09.2026 and 26.09.2026 are set aside. It is made clear that the
permission granted herein shall not confer any exclusive right upon the
petitioner or any particular group to control the conduct of the festival or
to exclude any other villager from participating in the same. The festival
shall be conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and communal
harmony.
9. With the above directions, the writ petition is allowed.
14-10-2026
NCC : Yes/No
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes / No
mar/skn
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
To
1. The Superintendent of Police,
Virudhunagar District,
Virudhunagar.
2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police,
Thiruchuli Range, Thiruchuli,
Virudhunagar District.
3. The Tahsildar,
Aruppukottai Taluk,
Virudhunagar District.
4. The Inspector of Police,
Thiruchuli Police Station,
Virudhunagar District.
5. The Sub-Inspector of Police,
Paralachi Police Station,
Virudhunagar District.
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI, J.
mar/skn
WP Crl.(MD) No. 5656 of 2026
14-10-2026
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