Thangam v. The Superintendent Of Police,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 04-06-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR Thangam ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Superintendent of Police, No.2, Sankari Main Road, Nethimedu, Salem - 636 002.
2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, No.2, Sankari Main Road, Nethimedu, Salem - 636 002.
3. The Inspector of Police, Karuppur Police Station, Salem District - 636 012.
..Respondent(s) To direct the Respondent Police to provide adequate police protection to the Petitioner and her family members for their life and limb and to pass such further or other orders as this Honble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.
For Petitioner(s):
M/s.N.Mohanapriya For Respondent(s):
Mr.A.Amarnath, Government Advocate (Crl. Side)
ORDER
The petitioner submitted representations to the District, Collector and the Superintendent of Police, Salem, seeking Police protection. Since the said representations have not been considered, the present Criminal Original Petition has been filed.
2. The contention of the petitioner is that he belongs to the Nadar Community, whereas the majority of the Villagers belong to Vanniyar Community. About nine years ago, his son, namely Kathir, married one Rajakumari, who belongs to Vanniyar Community and they have been blessed with two girl children. Though the father of Rajakumari accepted their marriage, the other Villagers did not accept the inter-caste marriage. Consequently, the petitioner and his family members were not permitted to enter the Village Temple and worship the deity. They were also prevented from participating in Temple festivals and threatened by the Villagers. Hence, he lodged complaints, pursuant to which, two FIRs were registered in Crime Nos.6 of 2026 and 53 of 2026 and thereafter, no action has been taken.
3. Thereafter, Villagers erected a shed in front of the petitioner's house for cooking in connection with the Temple festival, thereby, obstructing the passage. When the petitioner objected to the same, he and his family members were attacked by the Villagers. The Tahsildar, Omalur and Officials of
Karuppur Police Station intervened and rescued them during the attack. Thereafter, the Villagers passed a resolution stating that the petitioner and his family members should not enter into the Temple and participate in the Temple festivals. They also refused to collect common funds from them. According to the petitioner, he and his family members have been subjected to assault and social boycott, hence the present petition has been filed.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) submitted that the two FIRs have been registered in connection with the matter and that the investigations are still pending.
5. Considering the above submissions, this Court passes the following directions:
i) The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Suramangalam. shall take up the investigation in both the cases and file the final reports in the respective FIRs. ii) The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Suramangalam, shall ensure that the petitioner and his family members are not subjected to social boycott or exclusion from participating in common village functions, including Temple festivals.
iii) The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Suramangalam, shall further ensure that adequate police protection is provided to the petitioner and his family members.
6. With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of.
04-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order PVS To
1. The Superintendent of Police, No.2, Sankari Main Road, Nethimedu, Salem - 636 002.
2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Suramangalam
3. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, No.2, Sankari Main Road, Nethimedu, Salem - 636 002.
4. The Inspector of Police, Karuppur Police Station, Salem District - 636 012.
5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.
PVS 04-06-2026