Mari Muthu S v. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police

W.P (MD).No.6457 of 2022 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 07.04.2022

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P (MD).No.6457 of 2022 S.Mari Muthu .... Petitioner Vs.

1. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Keeranur, Pudukkottai District.

2. The Inspector of Police, Keeranur Police Station, Pudukkottai District.

.... Respondents Prayer:Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus, directing respondents to grant permission and adequate police protection to conduct Adal Padal on 08.04.2022 at about 07.00 PM to 11.00 PM in the festival of the Arulmigu Sri Pidariamman Thirukovil situated in Mettupatti Village, Pudukkottai District in pursuant to my representation dated 05.04.2022.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Rajarajan For Respondents : Mr.R.M.Anbunithi No.1 & 2 Additional Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

The prayer in this writ petition is to direct the respondents to grant permission and adequate police protection to conduct Adal Padal on 08.04.2022 at about 07.00 PM to 11.00 PM in the festival of the Arulmigu Sri Pidariamman Thirukovil situated in Mettupatti Village, Pudukkottai District in pursuant to my representation dated 05.04.2022.

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 therein to conduct cultural programme on certain conditions. The said conditions read as follows: https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 1/2

W.P (MD).No.6457 of 2022 "a)The event shall be conducted in an organised and peaceful manner without causing law and order problem. b)There shall not be any obscene or vulgar scenes during the dance performance by any one of the participants or others. c)The aadal padal Program shall be restricted between 6.00 pm., and 11.00 p.m.

d)If there is any violation of the above said conditions, the respondents or the duly authorised officer is entitled to take necessary action as per law and stop such performance. e)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

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 second 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 cultural program on 08.04.2022 between 6.00 p.m., and 11.00 p.m., at Arulmigu Sri Pidariamman Thirukovil situated in Mettupatti Village, Pudukkottai District subject to the aforesaid conditions. There shall be no order as to costs. Sd/- Assistant Registrar (AS) // True Copy // / /2022 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) Aav To

1. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Keeranur, Pudukkottai District.

2. The Inspector of Police, Keeranur Police Station, Pudukkottai District.

3. THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI.

W.P (MD).No.6457 of 2022 07.04.2022 USK/07.04.2022/2P/4C https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2/2