Madras High CourtWP Crl.(MD)/1987/2026disposed of

C.Krishnan v. The District Collector

2026-04-08Honourable Mrs Justice L.Victoria Gowri6 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 08/04/2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE L. VICTORIA GOWRI and WPMP CRL.(MD). Nos.497 and 498 of 2026 C.Krishnan ... Petitioner Vs

1. The District Collector, O/o. the District Collector, Kanniyakumari.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o. the Revenue Divisional Officer, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari.

3. The Tahsildar, O/o. the Tahsildar, Agastheeswaram, Kanniyakumari.

4. The Superintendent of Police, O/o. the Superintendent of Police, Kanniyakumari District.

5. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, O/o. the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Agastheeswaram, Kanniyakumari.

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6. The Inspector of Police, Kottar Police Station, Kanniyakumari.

7. S.Rajalingam

8. M.Srinivas

9. S.Maheswaran

10. A.Suresh ... Respondents PRAYER :- To issue Writ of Certiorarfied Mandamus calling for the records pertaining to impugned proceedings of the 3rd Respondent in Na.Ka.c2/1856/2026 dated 01.04.2026 and quash the same and subsequently directing the respondents 1 to 6 herein to grant permission to conduct the temple festival in Arulmigu Therku Sudalai Maada Swamy Temple at Nagercoil Village, Agastheeswaram Taluk, Nagercoil Sub-District, Kanniyakumari District.

For Petitioner : Mr. S.Ramsundarvijayraj, Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.C.Satheesh for R1 to R3 Government Advocate (Crl.Side) Mr.S.Ravi for R4 to R6 Additional Public Prosecutor Mr.S.C.Herold Singh for R7 to R10 2/6

ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed seeking to issue Writ of Certiorarfied Mandamus calling for the records pertaining to impugned proceedings of the 3rd Respondent in Na.Ka.c2/1856/2026 dated 01.04.2026 and quash the same and subsequently directing the respondents 1 to 6 herein to grant permission to conduct the temple festival in Arulmigu Therku Sudalai Maada Swamy Temple at Nagercoil Village, Agastheeswaram Taluk, Nagercoil Sub-District, Kanniyakumari District.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that a peace committee meeting was conducted on 01.04.2026 with the petitioner faction and the private respondents faction in which the third respondent had refused permission to conduct temple festival, recording that both the parties are not inclined to conduct the festival by jointly together.

3. However, now there is a change in circumstances, where the petitioner has come forward to cooperate with the private respondents from conducting the temple festival, subject to the condition that the petitioner faction should not be hindered in participating with any of the 3/6

functions related to the temple festival and also none of the respondent fraction is to claim any first honour in any of the poojas and other related functions to be conducted during the festival.

4. On the other hand, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents 7 to 10 fairly conseded for the same.

5. In view of the same, the impugned order of the third Respondent in Na.Ka.c2/1856/2026 dated 01.04.2026, is hereby quashed and the 7 to 10 respondents are directed to organise the festival and conduct the same, subject to the condition that neither the petitioner nor any of his faction members should be prevented from participating in the said function peacefully. It is made clear that no first honour would be rendered to any person during the temple festival. Further, the sixth respondent police is directed to monitor that no untoward incident happens during the temple festival.

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6. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petititons are closed. 08.04.2026 NCC : yes / no Index : yes / no Note: Issue order copy on 08.04.2026 pnn To

1. The District Collector, O/o. the District Collector, Kanniyakumari.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o. the Revenue Divisional Officer, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari.

3. The Tahsildar,O/o. the Tahsildar, Agastheeswaram, Kanniyakumari.

4. The Superintendent of Police, O/o. the Superintendent of Police, Kanniyakumari District.

5. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, O/o. the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Agastheeswaram, Kanniyakumari.

6. The Inspector of Police, Kottar Police Station, Kanniyakumari.

7. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

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L. VICTORIA GOWRI, J pnn

ORDER

IN and WPMP CRL.(MD). Nos.497 and 498 of 2026 Date : 08/04/2026 6/6