S.Manogaran v. The Collector Of
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED 26.03.2021
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE W.P.No.7779 of 2021 AND W.M.P.No.8311 of 2021 S.Manogaran
...Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Collector -cum-District Magistrate Thiruvallur 2.The Block Development Officer Sholavaram Panchayat, Thiruvallur District 3.The Tahsildar Ponneri Taluk, Thiruvallur District 4.Jayalakshmi Natarajan President Padiyanallur Grade-I Village Panchayat Padiyanallur, Chennai-52 5.The Assitant Commissioner of Police GNT Road, Puzhal, Chennai-66
...Respondents
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records pertaining to the proceedings of the 1st respondent in Na.Ka.No.8002/2021/AM1 dated 16.03.2021 and quash the same insofar as para No.10(b) and (e) of the proceeding imposing prohibition of daily poor feeding (Annathanam) and fire walk ritual on 28.03.2021 in Sree Arulmigu Muneeshwara Angala Eswari Temple at Padiyanallur, Thiruvallur District held between 18.03.2021 and 29.03.2021 and consequently direct the 1st respondent to accord permission to perform daily poor feeding (Annathanam) and fire walk ritual in the Temple festival. For Petitioner : Mr.P.Murthy For R1 to R3 & R5 : Mr.V.Shanmugasundar Special Government Pleader For R4 : No appearance
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed challenging the order dated 16.03.2021, rejecting the petitioner's request for conducting daily poor feeding (Annathanam) and fire walk ritual between 18.03.2021 and 29.03.2021 at Sree Arulmigu Muneeshwara Angala Eswari Temple, Padiyanallur, Thiruvallur District.
2. Heard Mr.P.Murthy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.V.Shanmugasundar, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of the official respondents.
3. Mr.V.Shanmugasundar, learned Special Government Pleader, on instructions, would submit that insofar as the fire walk ritual to be performed in the aforementioned Temple is concerned, the same cannot be permitted, due to the present COVID-19 situation, as he would submit that the said exercise will involve congregation of many worshippers. However, insofar as daily poor feeding (Annathanam) is concerned, the District Collecor/1st respondent herein has given instructions to him that 50 persons can be permitted to enter the aforementioned Temple at a time for the purpose of daily poor feeding (Annathanam).
4. Mr.P.Murthy, learned Counsel for the petitioner, on instructions, would agree to the said submission.
5. Accordingly, this Court, permits Sree Arulmigu Muneeshwara Angala Eswari Temple Committee, in which the petitioner is the President, to conduct daily poor feeding (Annathanam) up to 29.03.2021 at Sree Arulmigu Muneeshwara Angala Eswari Temple, Padiyanallur, Thiruvallur District, by restricting the number of persons to a maximum of 50 at a given point of time, by following all the COVID-19 protocols imposed by the Government. However, it is made clear that insofar as the fire walk ritual, for which also the petitioner has sought permission, the same is declined by this Court, after recording the submissions made by the learned Special Government Pleader, on instructions. Excepting for this modification, the other directions issued by the 1st respondent under the impugned order dated 16.03.2021 shall remain.
In terms of the aforesaid directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
-s/d- Assistant Registrar True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar
To 1.The Collector -cum-District Magistrate Thiruvallur 2.The Block Development Officer Sholavaram Panchayat Thiruvallur District 3.The Tahsildar Ponneri Taluk Thiruvallur District 4.The Assitant Commissioner of Police GNT Road Puzhal, Chennai-66 W.P.No.7779 of 2021 LN(CO) SP(26/03/2021)