Senthil Kumar v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 28.04.2023
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.9340 & 9342 of 2023 Senthil Kumar ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector The Collector Office, Sivagangai District.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, RDO Office, Devakottai, Sivagangai District.
3.The Inspector of Police Somanadha Puram Police Station, Sivagangai District.
4.Kannan 5.Velmurugan 6.Viswanathan 1/7
7.Kasinathan 8.Ilango 9.Rathinam ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the second respondent to take the action on the complaint of the petitioner dated 06.04.2023 and further directing the respondents to take immediate action to prevent breach of public peace in the Amaravathi Village of Karaikudi Taluk, Sivagangai District, which is imminent to take place in the guise of village temple festival about to take place between 02.05.2023.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Srikanth for M/s.APN Law Associates For Respondents : Mr.N.Muthu Vijayan - for R1 to R3 Special Government Pleader Mr.D.Venkatesh - for R4 to R9 2/7
O R D E R
The writ petition has been filed in the nature of a Mandamus seeking a direction against the second respondent / Revenue Divisional Officer, Devakottai, Sivagangai District, to take action on a complaint of the petitioner dated 06.04.2021.
2. The petitioner also seeks further relief that the respondents 4 to 9 or anybody in that group should not do any temple festival in what the petitioner claims was originally Sadayan Andi Temple but was now rechanged to Sadai Andi temple. Atleast the deity is the same.
3. It is pointed out by the learned Special Government Pleader that Peace Committee Meeting was conducted on 27.04.2023 (yesterday) at 11.00 a.m. in which the writ petitioner himself has also participated and decision has been taken that all the parties including the petitioner and all the parties including the respondents 4 to 9, can 3/7
worship in the temple. It is made clear that it is not only the named petitioner or the respondents 4 to 9 alone to come to that particular decision but the entire village, the entire people in the surrounding village, in fact the entire people in the neighbouring District or in the District can also worship in the temple and they can pray for the wellbeing of everybody concerned. Let the temple festival be conducted. The other issue which has been brought up is conducting of what may be called "khl;L tz;o vy;if ge;jak;"
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner stated that the permission had not been obtained for the same.
5. It will only be appropriate that in a temple festival, the general public congregate to worship and let that be the main objective and thereafter, after the festival is completed let them participate in joy and mirth after getting permission from the appropriate authorities. The respondents 4 to 9 may be well advised not to conduct this particular festival and if ever they want to do it, again do it with the participation of all parties concerned and after getting necessary permission from the 4/7
official respondents particularly, the Tahsildar and jurisdictional Inspector of Police.
6. The Writ Petition need not be kept pending. It is disposed of with the hope that the deity will have the pleasure of all the people coming to pay their respects. No costs. Consequently connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
28.04.2023 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes/No NCC : Yes / No RM Note : Issue Order copy on 28.04.2023 5/7
To 1.The District Collector The Collector Office, Sivagangai District.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, RDO Office, Devakottai, Sivagangai District.
3.The Inspector of Police Somanadha Puram Police Station, Sivagangai District.
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C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.
RM 28.04.2023 7/7