J.Jayaseelan v. The Chief Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 12.09.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI J.Jayaseelan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Secretary to Government, Department of H.R. & C.E., Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
3.The Commissioner, H.R & C.E. Board, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
4.The Assistant Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Board, Cuddalore District.
5.The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.
6.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Page No.1 of 8
Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.
7.The Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.
8.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Panruti, Cuddalore.
9.The Inspector of Police, Naduveerappattu Police Station, Cuddalore District.
... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the 4th respondent to take necessary actions to allow the Dalit people in the temple festival and ensure the car festival of Mariammal Temple to pass through streets where the persons belonging to Dalit Community reside based on the representation of the petitioner dated 23.06.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.D.Ashok Kumar For Respondents : Mrs.S.Anitha Special Government Pleader [R1, R5 & R6] Mr.K.Karthikeyan Government Advocate [R2 to R4] Mr.S.Balaji Government Advocate (Crl.Side) [R7 to R9] *****
ORDER
Page No.2 of 8
This Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking for a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 4th respondent to take necessary actions to allow the Dalit people in the temple festival and ensure the car festival of Mariammal Temple to pass through streets where the persons belonging to Dalit Community reside based on the representation of the petitioner dated 23.06.2025.
2. Mrs.S.Anitha, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 1, 5 and 6, Mr.K.Karthikeyan, learned Government Advocate, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 2 to 4 and Mr.S.Balaji, learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side), accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 7 to 9. In view of the consent expressed by the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.
3. The case of the petitioner is that in his village, there is a temple called Sri Muthu Mariyamman Temple, which is coming under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department. In the said temple, during the festival time, dalit peoples are not allowed to worship, who are residing at the village. Even the deity Page No.3 of 8
cannot been taken through the street where the dalit peoples are residing. Therefore, the petitioner has requested the authorities to allow all the community people to worship in the temple and pass the Temple Car carrying the deity through the streets where the dalit peoples are residing. However, the same was rejected, against which, the petitioner has filed a writ petition before this Court in W.P.No.18787 of 2010. This Court, vide order, dated 07.11.2022, allowed the said writ petition, by specifically making an observation that the petitioner is entitled to demand that the procession of the Temple Car should pass through their streets. Since the said order was not implemented by the respondents, the petitioner has again made a representation dated 23.06.
2025 before the 5th respondent for taking necessary action to allow all the community people to conduct the Maha Kumbhabhishekam festival and to pass Temple Car carrying the deity through the streets where dalit persons are residing. However, the same was not considered so far. Hence, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition before this Court.
4. Though very many grounds have been raised in this writ petition, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that it would suffice, if this Court, issues a direction to the respondents to implement the order Page No.4 of 8
passed by this Court in W.P.No.18787 of 2010, dated 07.11.2022 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 23.06.2025, within a reasonable time that may be fixed by this Court.
5. On the above contentions, heard the learned respective counsel appearing for the respondents and perused the materials available on record.
6. Admittedly, the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the temple is going to be held between 12.09.2025 to 15.09.2025. In order to allow the Dalit people in the temple festival and ensure the Temple Car of the temple to pass through streets where the persons belonging to Dalit Community reside, the petitioner has made a representation dated 23.06.2025 before the 5th respondent, which was not considered.
7. It is seen that for the similar relief, the petitioner has already approached this Court by filing a writ petition in W.P.No.18787 of 2010 and this Court, vide order, dated 07.11.2022, allowed the said writ petition, by holding that discrimination cannot be allowed in this modern world and the petitioner is entitled to demand that the procession of the Page No.5 of 8
Temple Car should pass through their streets.
8. In view of the above, this Court directs the respondents 4, 5 and 7 to ensure that the procession of the Temple Car passes through the streets where the persons belonging to the Dalit Community reside in the petitioner's village, without any law and order problem during the temple festival.
9. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
12.09.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order sp Note to office : Issue order copy on 12.09.2025. Page No.6 of 8
To 1.The Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Secretary to Government, Department of H.R. & C.E., Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
3.The Commissioner, H.R & C.E. Board, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
4.The Assistant Commissioner, H.R. & C.E. Board, Cuddalore District.
5.The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.
6.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.
7.The Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.
8.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Panruti, Cuddalore.
9.The Inspector of Police, Naduveerappattu Police Station, Cuddalore District.
Page No.7 of 8
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
sp 12.09.2025 Page No.8 of 8