Sivakumar v. The District Collector,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 10/04/2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE L. VICTORIA GOWRI and WPMP CRL.(MD). No.508 of 2026 Sivakumar ... Petitioner Vs
1. The District Collector, Pudukkottai District.
2. The Superintendent of Police, Pudukkottai District.
3. The Tahsildar, Viralimalai Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
4. The Inspector of Police, Viralimalai Police Station, Viralimalai Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
5. R.Karthiyappan ... Respondents PRAYER :- To issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents 2 and 4 herein to provide adequate police protection for the petitioner and his family members to enter and participate in the Arulmigu Sri Pidari Amman Temple Festival and Mandagapadi without any hindrance by 1/5
affording Festival Tax and other hereditary rituals as per the longstanding village custom and tradition, and consequently direct the respondents 2 and 4 herein to take immediate action against the 5th respondent and his men for practicing discrimination and excommunicating the petitioner for an inter-caste marriage. For Petitioner : Mr. K.Vasantha Kumar, Advocate.
For Respondents : Mr.M.Muthumanikkam for R1 and R3 Government Advocate (Crl.Side) Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar for R2 and R4 Government Advocate (Crl.Side)
ORDER
Seeking to direct the respondents 2 and 4 herein to provide adequate police protection for the petitioner and his family members to enter and participate in the Arulmigu Sri Pidari Amman Temple Festival and Mandagapadi without any hindrance by affording Festival Tax and other hereditary rituals as per the longstanding village custom and tradition, and consequently direct the respondents 2 and 4 herein to take immediate action against the 5th respondent and his men for practicing discrimination and ex-communicating the petitioner for an inter-caste 2/5
marriage, this writ petition is filed.
2. The learned counsel by the petitioner submitted that he has solemnized an intercaste marriage in the year 2015 at Tiruchy Vayalur Murugan Temple with a lady from another caste. Under such circumstances, the fifth respondent ex-communicated the petitioner and his family from participating in the temple festival of Arul Migu Sri Pidari Amman Temple and also receiving the temple festival tax for the past several years. Hence not being able to withstand the atrocity and discrimination meted out to the petitioner, the petitioner had come before this Court by way of this writ petition and sought the indulgence of this Court.
3. Considering the limited scope of the relief sought for in this writ petition, notice to the fifth respondent is dispensed with.
4. Considering the seriousness of the issue involved, the 4th respondent police is directed to put the 5th respondent on summon under Section 64 BNSS and obtain an undertaking in writing that he will not 3/5
discriminate either the petitioner or anyone from the village from participate in the temple festival. It is also made clear that the 4th respondent should ensure that the 5th respondent do not ex-communicate any person in the village from participating in the temple festival.
5. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition stands closed. 10.04.2026 NCC : yes / no Index : yes / no pnn To
1. The District Collector, Pudukkottai District.
2. The Superintendent of Police, Pudukkottai District.
3. The Tahsildar, Viralimalai Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
4. The Inspector of Police, Viralimalai Police Station, Viralimalai Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
5. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
4/5
L. VICTORIA GOWRI, J pnn
ORDER
IN WP CRL.(MD) No.2015 of 2026 Date : 10/04/2026 5/5