Maniraj v. The Superintendent Of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 12.01.2024

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.KRISHNAKUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR Maniraj ... Petitioner Vs.

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

2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District.

3.The Inspector of Police, SIPCOT Police Station, Thoothukudi District.

4.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District.

(The fourth respondent is suo motu impleaded by this Court) ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the second and third respondents to grant appropriate prior permission for conducting Bullock Cart Race to be held on 14.01.2024 at petitioner's village ie., South Veerapandiyapuram, 1/6

Thoothukudi District, by considering the petitioner's representation, dated 03.01.2024 and 10.01.2024.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.P.Narayanakumar For R1 to R3 : Mr.R.Meenakshi Sundaram Additional Public Prosecutor For R4 : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar Government Pleader

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by D.KRISHNAKUMAR, J.) This Writ Petition has been filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the second and third respondents to grant appropriate prior permission for conducting Bullock Cart Race to be held on 14.01.2024 at petitioner's village ie., South Veerapandiyapuram, Thoothukudi District, by considering the petitioner's representation, dated 03.01.2024 and 10.01.2024.

2. By consent of both the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself. 2/6

3. According to the petitioner, he is residing at South Veerapandiyapuram, Thoothukudi District and every year, his village people are conducting Pongal festival in a grand manner in the name of 'Idhaya Nila Nanbargal' and they are conducting cultural programmes like Silambattam, Kola Potti, Uriyadithal etc., in a peaceful manner by abiding the conditions and restrictions imposed by the respondents. In this year, the petitioner's village people are going to conduct Pongal festival from 14.01.2024 to 16.01.2024, along with Bullock Cart Race. Hence, the petitioner's village people have made a representation before the second respondent police on 03.01.2023, seeking to grant permission to conduct Bullock Cart Race on 14.01.2024. Since the said representation has not been considered, the petitioner has sent a representation to the respondents through registered post on 10.01.2024. But the said representation was also not considered. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed.

4. The learned Government Pleader appearing for the fourth respondent would submit that the District Collector is the competent authority and the petitioner has not impleaded the District Collector as a party to the writ petition.

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5. In the light of the above, this Court suo motu impleaded the District Collector as the fourth respondent in the writ petition and directed the petitioner to make a fresh representation to the District Collector, Thoothukudi District, seeking permission to conduct Bullock Cart Race on 14.01.2024 and if any such representation is received, the same shall be considered by the District Collector, Thoothukudi District at the earliest without any further delay.

6. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.

[D.K.K., J.] [R.V, J.] 12.01.2024 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No NCC : Yes/No Note: Issue order copy on 12.01.2024.

akv To 1.The Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.

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2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District.

3.The Inspector of Police, SIPCOT Police Station, Thoothukudi District.

4.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District.

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D.KRISHNAKUMAR, J.

and R.VIJAYAKUMAR , J.

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