Chinnaraji v. Ms. T.R. Geetharani,
2025:MHC:1287
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 03.06.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH Chinnaraji ... Petitioner Gayathri The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Dharmapuri-1.
... Respondent Prayer: Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondent for his act of contempt committed by willfully disobeying the order of this Court in W.P.No.16246 of 2023 dated 11.01.2024.
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Ganesan For Respondent : Mr.P.Kumaresan, Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.C.Gowthamaraj Government Advocate 1/5
O R D E R
This petition has been filed alleging contempt as against the direction under order dated 11.01.2024. In that writ petition, the prayer was for a mandamus directing the official respondent to permit the petitioner and his parties to conduct the festival in the Gopal Swamy Temple at Malaiyur Village, Pikkeli Post, Pennagaram Taluk, Dharmapuri District in Purattasi month.
2.Since the writ petition had been filed literally at the eleventh hour, an order was passed on 11.01.2024 granting all parties liberty to appear before the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) at 2.00 p.m. on 12.01.2024 and directing the RDO to issue appropriate directions along the lines of the resolutions as recorded under order dated 12.10.2023. Those resolutions read as follows:
'i. All festivals in the Malaiyur Village and the conduct thereof, should be decided by the village people and the meeting to decide such issues should be presided over by the 6 Village Gounders.
ii. The Village people should accept the decision of the Village Gounders (Committee).
iii. The Gopal Temple bank account should be in the name of the 6 Village Gounders jointly.
iv. The Temple's income and expenditure books should be maintained separately with proof of expenses. v. The Samy procession during Pongal festival should be conducted in a peaceful manner.
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vi. Both parties should act in a peaceful manner without any law and order problem and within the Rules and Regulations of the State, failing which, a recommendation will be made to HR&CE to administer the temple.'
3.One of the other villagers had filed a writ petition in WP.No.14240 of 2024 and on 24.05.2024, an order has been passed by this Court recording the position that there are law and order problems every year relating to the conduct of the temple festival. There is a passing observation to the effect that since the temple attracts sizeable member of devotees, the same may be taken over by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE), so that temple festivals are conducted in a proper manner in future.
4.This Court posed a specific question to the petitioner as to whether the resolutions that have been recorded as early as on 09.01.2023 have been implemented.
5.However both Mr.P.Kumaresan, learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the State and Mr.T.Ganesan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would confirm that the resolutions have not been implemented since the villagers are not ad-idem on any aspect relating to conduct of the temple festival.
6.In such a situation, this contempt petition is liable to be closed. 3/5
There is no point in the Court attempting to resolve the dispute if the villagers refuse to see eye-to-eye on any aspect of the matters relating to conduct of temple festival.
7.Learned Additional Advocate General informed the Court that the HR&CE has indeed taken over the temple and the parties have only themselves to blame, for the HR&CE taking over the temple administration.
8.This contempt petition is closed. No costs. 03.06.2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking order To Gayathri The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Dharmapuri-1.
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DR. ANITA SUMANTH,J.
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