Sri Veeramadai Ayannar Swamy v. The District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED 05.02.2015

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM WP.No.2719 of 2015 Sri Veeramadai Ayannar Swamy Thirukoil Represented by its Member of the Managing Committee Namely, Mahendran, Veeramadai Village, Arcot Post Thirukovilur Taluk, Villupuram District .. Petitioner

Versus

1. The District Collector, Villupuram.

2. The Superintendent of Police Villupuram.

3. The Tahsildar, Thirukovilur Villupuram District.

.. Respondents Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent herein to consider the representation dated 07.01.2015 submitted by the petitioner on behalf of the Managing committee of the temple within the stipulated period prescribed by this court. For Petitioner :

Mr. G.Thangavel For Respondents: Mr.R.Vijayakumar Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

Heard Mr.G.Thangavel, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.R.Vijayakumar, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents and with their consent, the writ petition itself is taken up for disposal at the admission stage.

2. The petitioner seeks for a direction upon the respondents to consider his representation dated 07.01.2015.

3. It appears that there is a dispute between two groups of people with regard to the right of worshiping the Sri.Veeramadai Ayannar Swamy Thriukoil situate in the Veeramadai Village, Villupuram District. On account of the dispute between two groups, a Peace Committee Meeting was convened by the third respondent on 04.12.2014, in which both the parties had appeared. However, since there was no amicable settlement, the Tahsildar, namely, the third respondent has locked the temple. Now the petitioner, who represents one group of people led by Mr.Mahendran, S/o. Premakanthan, has submitted a representation to the respondents stating that they will not raise any objection for the villagers to worship in the temple irrespective of the community. Therefore, they would request the respondent to consider the representation and unlock the temple doors to enable all the worshipers in the village to worship the deity.

4. It is not known as to why such an undertaking was not given before the third respondent when a Peace Committee was convened on 04.12.2014. That apart, the petitioner has not impleaded the rival group, namely, Mr.Shanmugam and others, who were also invited for attending Peace Committee meeting. At this stage, no positive direction can be granted as sought for by the petitioner. Since the representation dated 07.01.2015 has been given by the petitioner, the third respondent shall convene one more Peace Committee Meeting inviting other groups and pass appropriate orders, if the claims made by the petitioner are genuine, after hearing all the parties concerned and also taking into consideration the opinion of the second respondent.

5. With the above direction, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ga

To

1. The District Collector, Villupuram.

2. The Superintendent of Police Villupuram.

3. The Tahsildar, Thirukovilur Villupuram District.

+ 1 cc to M/s. G. Thangavel, Advocate SR.6182 + 1 cc to to Government Pleader 6383 WP.No.2719 of 2015 RK(CO) Eu 19.02.15