M.Prabakaran v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 19.08.2025 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH
1. M.Prabakaran
2. S.Boopathi ..
Petitioners v.
1. The District Collector Namakkal District
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Thiruchengode Namakkal District
3. The Thasildar Paramathi Velur Taluk Namakkal District
4. The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Namakkal
5. S.V.Subramaniam
6. The Sub Inspector of Police Jedarpalayam Police Station, Namakkal
(R6 suo motu impleaded vide order of Court dated 19.08.2025 in WP.
31229 of 2025) ..
Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 4 to consider the petitioners' representation dated 25.02.2025 seeking to permit the petitioners and as well as all community people residing Solasiramani Village to enter and worship in Sree Vinayagar and Sree Muthukumaraswamy Temples in Solasiramani Village, Paramathi Velur Taluk, Namakkal District, on merits within the time limit fixed by this Hon'ble Court.
For Petitioners ::
Mr.L.Mouli For Respondents ::
Mr.G.Velu Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3 Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader for R4 Mr.V.Meganathan Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R6
ORDER
W.M.P.No.34965 of 2025 seeking to permit the petitioners to file a single writ petition, stands ordered on payment of single Court fee.
2. The Sub Inspector of Police, Jedarpalayam Police Station, Namakkal is suo motu impleaded as the sixth respondent in this writ petition.
3. This writ petition has been filed for issuance of a mandamus to the respondents 1 to 4 to deal with the representation made by the petitioners on 25.02.2025, wherein the petitioners are seeking for entering and worshipping a public temple, namely, Sree Vinayagar and Sree Muthukumaraswamy Temples in Solasiramani Village, Paramathi Velur Taluk, Namakkal District.
4. Heard the respective learned counsel appearing for the parties.
5. When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the fourth respondent produced the written instructions received from the office of the Inspector, HR & CE Department, Paramathi Velur. On going through the
same, it is seen that since there was a potential for law and order problem, the parties were called for a peace committee meeting. The petitioners alone attended the peace committee meeting and the other group did not come. The learned Additional Government Pleader submitted that the temple in question is a public temple, but it does not come within the control of the H.R. & C.E. Department.
6. The petitioners are prevented from entering the temple, only on the ground that they belong to a different community. When the temple in question is a public temple, no one can be prevented from entering the temple and offering the prayers on the basis of their community. The petitioners must be permitted to enter the temple and to offer their prayers. The impleaded sixth respondent shall ensure that no law and order problem is created and if anyone attempts to disturb the peace and tranquillity, necessary action shall be initiated. The permission given to the petitioners to enter the temple and to offer prayers does not give any special rights to the petitioners, except for the fact that like any other devotee, the petitioners can enter the temple and offer their prayers and nothing more.
7. This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No costs. Index : yes/no 19.08.2025 Registry is directed to carryout the amendment forthwith ss To
1. The District Collector Namakkal District
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Thiruchengode Namakkal District
3. The Thasildar Paramathi Velur Taluk Namakkal District
4. The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Namakkal
5. The Sub Inspector of Police Jedarpalayam Police Station, Namakkal
N.ANAND VENKATESH,J.
ss 19.08.2025