Ramesh Kumar v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 09.09.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.Nos.38430 and 38431 of 2025 Ramesh Kumar ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, Kallakurichi District - 606 202.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kallakurichi Division, Kallakurichi District - 606 202.
3.The Tahsildar, Chinnasalem Taluka, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
4.The Inspector of Police, Kacharapalayam Police Station, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
5.The Sub-Inspector of Police, Kacharapalayam Police Station, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
6.The Inspector, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Chinnasalem, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
7.Neelamegam 1/8
8.Perumal 9.Sudha 10.Arivalagan 11.Ganesan 12.Kamalakannan 13.Madhavan 14.Arul Kumar 15.Govindaraj ... Respondents Prayer:
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned peace committee meeting proceeding dated 18.08.2025 of the third respondent and quash the same as illegal and unconstitutional for perpetuating discriminatory practices that deny Scheduled Caste persons their right to participate in the deity's chariot worship during the ongoing Panjali Amman Temple Festival and consequently direct the 1st to 3rd respondents to uphold equality and non-discrimination in worship by ensuring that the Temple Car / Chariot procession passes through the streets of Eduthavainatham Village, where Scheduled Caste people are reside by considering the representation dated 23.08.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.C.Prabhu For Respondents : Mr.T.M.Rajangam for R1 to R3, R6 Government Advocate Mr.S.Balaji for R4 and R5 Government Advocate (Crl. Side) 2/8
O R D E R
Mr.T.M.Rajangam, learned Government Advocate takes notice on behalf of the respondents 1 to 3 and 6. Mr.S.Balaji, learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) takes notice on behalf of the respondents 4 and 5. Since this Court is not inclined to pass any adverse order as against the respondents 7 to 15, notice to the respondents 7 to 15 is dispensed with. By consent, the writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself. 2.This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned peace committee meeting proceeding dated 18.08.
where Scheduled Caste people are reside by considering the representation dated 23.08.2025.
3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner belong to Scheduled Caste community residing at Eduthavainatham Village and in the said Village there is a Temple namely, Shree Panjali Amman Temple over 100 years old and during the Temple festival the caste Hindu people claim that they are alone entitled to Temple Car procession in their streets and are denying the same to the area where Scheduled Caste community people are residing. Hence the petitioner and other residents of Eduthavainatham Village made representation to the respondents 1 to 3, pursuant to which, a peace committee meeting was conducted and the Scheduled Caste people were allowed to participate in the Temple festival, however, the access of Temple Car procession in their streets were denied. Hence, this Court may quash the impugned proceedings and ensure that the Temple Car / Chariot procession passes through the streets of Eduthavainatham Village, where Scheduled Caste people are residing.
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4.The learned Government Advocate submitted that a peace committee meeting was conducted in which a decision was arrived at that all the persons including the petitioner was permitted to participate in the Temple festival and there is no caste discrimination, however, the claim of the petitioner that the Temple Car procession should enter into the street where the petitioner is residing is impermissible since there are people residing in eight streets which are narrow streets and hence, the Temple Car can ply only in the Therodum Veedhi earmarked by the law enforcing agency. 5.The grievance of the petitioner is that the Temple Car procession should enter into the street where the petitioner is residing. This Court perused the copy of the communication sent by the third respondent to the learned Government Advocate dated 09.09.
2025 and it reveals that a peace committee meeting was conducted on 18.08.
can only enter/ proceed in the streets, where the Temple Car procession would normally enter/ proceed.
6.In view of the above, this Court directs the respondents 3 and 4 to conduct the Panjali Amman Temple Festival in a peaceful manner by allowing all the people to enter into the Temple, worship the deity and to participate in the Temple Car procession and allow the Temple Car procession to enter into the streets, where the Temple Car procession would normally enter/ proceed.
7.The writ petition is disposed of with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 09.09.2025 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No 6/8
To 1.The District Collector, Kallakurichi District - 606 202.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kallakurichi Division, Kallakurichi District - 606 202.
3.The Tahsildar, Chinnasalem Taluka, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
4.The Inspector of Police, Kacharapalayam Police Station, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
5.The Sub-Inspector of Police, Kacharapalayam Police Station, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
6.The Inspector, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Chinnasalem, Kallakurichi District - 606 201.
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M.DHANDAPANI,J.
pri And W.M.P.Nos.38430 and 38431 of 2025 09.09.2025 8/8