Sanmugam v. The Superintendent Of Police
W.P (MD).No. 3313 of 2022 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 22.02.2022
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P (MD).No. 3313 of 2022 Sanmugam ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District Dindigul 2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police Vedasanthur Taluk Dindigul District 3.The Inspector of Police Vesasanthur Police Station Dindigul District ... Respondents Prayer : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus ,directing the respondents to grant permission and police protection conducting the 'Maasi ' Festival in Arulmighu Angala Eswari Amman Temple at Alagapuri, Balapatti Village, Vedasandhur Taluk, Dindigul District scheduled to be held on 23.02.2022 under their supervision , on the basis of the representation of the petitioner's temple trust dated 05.02.2022. For Petitioner : Mr.P.Manikandan, Advocate For Respondents : Mr.R.M.Anbunithi Additional Public Prosecutor
O R D E R
The prayer in this writ petition is to direct the respondents to grant permission and police protection conducting the 'Maasi ' Festival in Arulmighu Angala Eswari Amman Temple at Alagapuri, Balapatti Village, Vedasandhur Taluk, Dindigul District scheduled to be held on 23.02.2022 under their supervision , on the basis of the representation of the petitioner's temple trust dated 05.02.2022. 2.Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondents.
3.In an identical matter, a Division Bench of this Court in an order passed in W.P.(MD) No.8975 of 2017 dated 10.05.2017 [M.Sakthi Vs. State rep. by the Inspector of Police, Odapatti Police Station, Odapatti, Theni District], had granted permission to the petitioner to conduct the Maasi Festival on certain conditions. The said conditions read as follows:
"a)The event shall be conducted in an organised and peaceful https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 1/2
W.P (MD).No. 3313 of 2022 manner without causing law and order problem. b))The festival shall be restricted between 8.00 a.m, and 11.00 p.m.
c)If there is any violation of the above said conditions, the respondent or the duly authorised officer is entitled to take necessary action as per law and stop the festival. d)In case if there is any discrepancy with regard to the date on which the program is to be conducted, it would be open to the respondent police to extend protection on some other day after giving due notice to the petitioner e) The restrictions have now been lifted and permitted to gather not more than 50 persons for the festival function. 4.This Court is of the view that similar conditions may also be imposed in the present writ petition. Consequently, the Writ Petition Stands allowed.
The third respondent is directed to strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure adopted by the Government of Tamil Nadu and grant permission to the writ petitioner to conduct the Maasi Festival on 23.02.2022 between 8.00 a.m, and 11.00 p.m.., at Angala Eswari Amman Temple at Alagapuri, Balapatti Village, Vedasandhur Taluk, Dindigul District subject to the aforesaid conditions. There shall be no order as to costs. Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS-III) // True Copy // 22/02/2022 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) To 1.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vedasanthur Taluk, Dindigul District.
3.The Inspector of Police Vesasanthur Police Station, Dindigul District. 4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
+1 CC to M/s.P.MANIKANDAN, Advocate ( SR-7828[F] dated 22/02/2022 ) W.P (MD).No. 3313 of 2022 22.02.2022 RS(22.02.2022) 2P-6C https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2/2