Palanisamy v. The Superintendent Of Police
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.03.2025 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.DHANABAL Palanisamy ... Petitioner Vs
1. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Karur District.
2. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karur Town Sub Division, Karur District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Thanthonimalai Police Station, Karur District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to grant permission and to provide adequate police protection to conduct peaceful demonstration on 10.03.2025 or 11.03.2025 between 11.00 am to 01.00 pm near District Collector Office, Karur District or any other alternative date and place condemning to 1/7
provide due respect (Mariyathai) to the representatives of Devendra Kula Vellalar Community as similarly being provided to the other community members during Maasi Festivals in Arulmigu Karunagirinathar Perumal Temple, Kadavoor Village, Karur District by considering the petitioner's representation dated 28.02.2025.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Manibharathi For Respondents : Mr.R.M.Anbunithi Additional Public Prosecutor
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to grant permission and to provide adequate police protection to conduct peaceful demonstration on 10.03.2025 or 11.03.2025 between 11.00 am to 01.00 pm near District Collector Office, Karur District or any other alternative date and place condemning to provide due respect (Mariyathai) to the representatives of Devendra Kula Vellalar Community as similarly being provided to the other community members during Maasi Festivals in Arulmigu Karunagirinathar Perumal Temple, Kadavoor Village, Karur District by considering the petitioner's representation dated 28.02.2025.
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2.According to the petitioner, the festival is being celebrated in the said temple every year during Masi month for 11 days. On the ninth day, car festival will be celebrated as per the tradition and the Devendra Kula Vellalar Community people are entrusted for the ninth day car festival for laying sannam, which means lifting both back wheels of Temple car with a strong hard wood placed under the wheels. During the procession of temple car in the year 2012, the whole temple car fell down on one side and the same was collapsed, thereafter, the said car was repaired and now the community people are not allowing for laying mara channai in the temple car during festival. An order was passed by the Joint Commissioner, HR and CE Department on 28.02.
2020 by instructing the temple authorities to provide rights to all community for performing the Mara Channai to the chariot during the temple festival. On 28.02.2025, the Sub Collector, Karur District, conducted peace committee meeting and the members of Hindu Schdeduled Caste Devendra Kula Vellalar Community participated in the meeting and requested to allow the members to enter into the temple and to permit them to perform Mara Channai to the temple car but the request was not resolved. Hence they refused to sign in the minutes of meeting.
and thereby, the village people decided to Dharna and for that they sought permission. However, the same was not considered and during the pendency of the representation, they declined to grant permission. 3.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police would submit that already the matter was settled between the parties through peace committee meeting and as per the peace committee meeting, the grievance of the petitioner was addressed and the Joint Commissioner, HR and CE Department also passed the order to follow the procedure adopted in the earlier festivals and thereby, allowed the petitioner to take part in the worship and car festival. Therefore, the demonstration itself is not necessary. However, they already rejected the petitioner's representation for demonstration.
Since the temple festival is now going on, it is not appropriate to consider the petitioner's request that it will create law and order issue between two groups. If the petitioner still wants to conduct protest, they will consider the same after ten days with alternative place i.e., near RDO office, Karur District.
4.The prayer of the petitioner is to grant permission for 4/7
conducting peace demonstration on 10.03.2025 or 11.03.2025 and now the time is lapsed. After filing of this petition, there are some amicable settlement between the parties and the Commissioner, HR and Ce also passed order and as per the proceedings of the Joint Commissioner, HR and CE Department all the parties are permitted to enter into the temple and have dharshan and car festival shall be conducted as per the proceedings adopted in the previous year. Therefore, the grievance of the petitioner was already addressed and still the petitioner wants to conduct demonstration, he can approach the third respondent after one week and if any such representation is presented by the petitioner, then the third respondent can consider as suggested by them in the alternative place.
5.With the above observations and direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of.
11.03.2025 Internet :Yes Index :Yes/No NCC :Yes/No LR 5/7
To
1. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Karur District.
2. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karur Town Sub Division, Karur District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Thanthonimalai Police Station, Karur District.
4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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P.DHANABAL , J.
LR 11.03.2025 7/7