S.Kanagaraj v. The Superintendent Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 29-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR S.Kanagaraj ..Petitioner(s) Vs State by

1. The Superintendent of Police, Salem District, Salem.

2. The Inspector of Police, Tharamangalam Police Station, Tharamangalam, Omalur Taluk, Salem District.

3. Om Sakthi Sekar ..Respondent(s) To issue directions, directing the respondents 1 and 2 police to give adequate police protection for conducting "Sakthi Alaithal Pooja" in the Shri Periyandichi Ammal Temple, Tho.Kondakapadi, Omalur Taluk, Salem District for one day during the period 20.05.2026 to 30.05.2026 and pass such further or other orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.C.Prakasam For Respondent(s):

Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam, Additional Public Prosecutor, For R1 And R2

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents 1 and 2 to give adequate police protection for conducting "Sakthi Alaithal Pooja" in the Shri Periyandichi Ammal Temple, Tho.Kondakapadi, Omalur Taluk, Salem District.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that he is the hereditary poojari of the said Temple. The petitioner and his brother are the hereditary trustees, who have been conducting temple poojas and festivals. According to the petitioner, the main temple festival is conducted once in 5 years and one of the main event is the "Sakhi Alaithal" and all along it has been conducted peacefully without any disturbance. Now, the third respondent is claiming rights over the temple and objecting the petitioner from conducting poojas and also obstructing the peaceful conduct of the festival.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner submitted a representation on 13.04.2026 to the respondent Police seeking permission to conduct the Temple festival from 20.05.2026 to 30.05.2026 and to provide police protection on 26.05.2026, for the very important event of "Sakthi Alaithal". Though the representation was received by the Police on 17.04.2026, no action has been taken so far.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the petitioner's representation will be duly considered and both the parties will be called for enquiry and appropriate instructions will be issued to the third respondent not to interfere with the peaceful conduct of the festival, unless the third respondent is able to substantiate his claim of right over the temple.

5. Considering the above submissions, this Court directs the second respondent Police to conduct an enquiry by affording an opportunity to both parties and to ascertain whether the third respondent has any legally sustainable right to conduct the festival. In the absence of any such right, the respondent Police shall ensure that the petitioner is permitted to conduct the festival peacefully. The respondent Police are further directed to provide adequate Police protection on 26.05.2026 for the conduct of "Sakthi Alaithal" event. The above exercise shall be completed within a period of two weeks from today.

6. With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of.

29-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order PVS

To

1. The Superintendent of Police, Salem District, Salem

2. The Inspector of Police, Tharamangalam Police Station, Tharamangalam, Omalur Taluk, Salem District.

3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.

PVS 29-04-2026