E.N.Natarajan, v. The Commissioner,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 01.07.2015

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SATHYANARAYANAN W.P.No.18376 of 2015 E.N.Natarajan ... Petitioner Vs.

1 The Commissioner Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Administration Dept. Chennai.

2 The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Administration Dept. Villupuram.

3 The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Administration Dept. Villupuram.

4 The Executive Officer Arulmigu Chandramouleeswarar Temple Thiruvakkarai Vanur Taluk Villupuram District.

5 V.Rajakantham 6 V.Sukumar 7 Veeran @ Veeragavullu 8 The Superintendent of Police Villupuram District Villupuram.

9 The Sub Inspector of Police Kedar Police Station Kedar Villupuram Taluk.

... Respondents Prayer:

Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 4 to give protection to the petitioner for conducting the annual Temple festival of Arulmigu Sri Gangai Amman Powrnami Festival on 1.7.2015 and 2.7.2015 and its related functions on the above said days including the taking in procession of Goddess Gangai Amman Utsavmoorthy in the streets Arumpulli Village, Villupuram Taluk.

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Suresh For Respondents : Mr.M.L.Mahendran for R1 to R4 Government Advocate Mr.V.Subbiah for R8 and R9 Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

By consent, the writ petition is taken up for final disposal. 2.The petitioner would state that the village people of Arumpulli Village, Villupuram Taluk are conducting annual Temple festival in Sri Muthumariamman Temple from the year 1964 and thereafter it could not be performed on account of the intervention by respondents 5 and 6 and the village people in the light of the difficulties faced by them, started worshipping the Goddess Gangai Amman in the form of three brick stones planted under the neem tree. Subsequently, the statue of Arulmigu Gangai Amman was installed and so also Pancha Loka Idol of Goddess as "Utsavamoorthy" for taking procession in the streets during annual Temple festival which always falls in the Tamil month of Aani during Powrnami day.

The grievance expressed by the petitioner is that the respondents 5 to 7 are misusing their position, is preventing celebration of the festival and in collision with the henchmen clandestinely removed Vinayaka Idol and Panchaloka Idol of Gangai Amman on 08.06.2014 and in this regard the petitioner has submitted a representation dated 13.05.2015 and since he has not been favoured with any kind of response, came forward to file this writ petition.

3.The matter was listed for admission on 25.06.2015 and on that day, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that it would be suffice to permit him to place three brick stones under the neem tree to perform pooja. Mr.M.L.Mahendran, learned Government Advocate accepted notice on behalf of the respondents 1 to 4 and made a submission that pursuant to the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.18376 of 2015 dated 11.06.2015, Peace Committee Meeting has been convened and sought time to get instructions and the matter was ordered to be listed on 30.06.2015 (Yesterday). 4.Today, the learned Government Advocate produced a letter No.Na.Ka.No.1305/2014/A4 dated 30.06.

2015 addressed to the Government Pleader appearing for HR & CE department wherein it has been stated among other things, a peace meeting was convened under the leadership of the jurisdiction Thasildar and six resolutions have been passed and it was also communicated to the petitioner. 5.The resolution would speak about among other things that the petitioner as well as the other group are granted permission to conduct the Temple festival and both of them cannot oppose each other and would conduct the Temple festival without any law and order problem and they cannot take out procession, but can perform pooja.

6.The said letter is also placed on record. In the light of the said development, the writ petition is disposed of and the petitioner as well as the other group represented by respondents 5 to 7 shall strictly comply with the decision taken in the Peace Committee Meeting on 30.06.2015, and adhere to the resolution passed therein. No costs.

pri s/d- Assistant Registrar(CO) True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar To 1 The Commissioner Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Administration Dept. Chennai.

2 The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Administration Dept. Villupuram.

3 The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Administration Dept. Villupuram.

4 The Executive Officer Arulmigu Chandramouleeswarar Temple Thiruvakkarai Vanur Taluk Villupuram District.

5 The Superintendent of Police Villupuram District Villupuram.

6 The Sub Inspector of Police Kedar Police Station Kedar Villupuram Taluk.

+ 1 cc to Mr.N.Suresh, Advocate SR 32540 + 1 cc to Govt.Pleader SR 32628 (co) prk1/7 W.P.No.18376 of 2015