Rajadurai. P v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.05.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL W.P.(MD)No.13949 of 2025 P.Rajadurai : Petitioner Vs.
1. The District Collector, Pudukottai District, Pudukottai.
2. The Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai District, Pudukottai.
3. The Thasildar,
4. The Inspector of Police, Gandharvakottai Police Station, Pudukottai District.
5. Arulmigu Sri Pidari Amman Temple, Festival Committee, Rep. by its President Thirumalai, Kulathurnayackarpatti,
: Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondent Nos.1 to 4 to ensure the conduct of the procession of Deity and Goat Sacrificing Ceremony in the residential areas of the Schedule Caste people of Nayackarpatti, Nadupatti, Athankaraipatti and Ulavayal, Gandharvakottai Taluk, Pudukkottai district during the temple festival of the Arulmigu Sri Pidari Amman Temple, Kulathurnayackarpatti, Gandharvakottai Taluk, Pudukkottai District to be held on 14.05.2025, without caste discrimination. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Jayaramachandran For Respondents : Mr.A.Kannan, Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1 & R3 Mr.A.Thiruvadikumar, Addl. Public Prosecutor for R2 & R4
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by M.DHANDAPANI, J.] This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus to the Respondent Nos.1 to 4 to ensure the conduct of the procession of Deity and Goat Sacrificing Ceremony in the residential areas of the
Schedule Caste people of Nayackarpatti, Nadupatti, Athankaraipatti and Ulavayal, Gandharvakottai Taluk, Pudukkottai district during the temple festival of the Arulmigu Sri Pidari Amman Temple, Kulathurnayackarpatti, Gandharvakottai Taluk, Pudukkottai District to be held on 14.05.2025, without caste discrimination.
2. Mr.A.Kannan, learned Additional Government Pleader takes notice for respondents 1 and 3 and Mr.A.Thiruvadikumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor takes notice for respondents 2 and 4. Since no adverse order is going to be passed against the 5th respondent, notice to the 5th respondent is dispensed with.
3. It is the case of the petitioner that a temple viz., Arulmigu Pidari Amman Kovil is situated at Kulathurnayackarpatti, Gandharvakottai, Pudukkottai District, which belongs to the people residing in the said village. Even though the temple belongs to the people of all communities, the Festival Committee always comprises only the people belongs to the Backward communities excluding the Schedule Caste people. The Festival Committee decided to conduct a festival on 14.05.2025, ignoring the
downtrodden community. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner made a representation on 21.04.2025. Since, no orders have been passed on the said representation, the petitioner has filed this Writ Petition with the above prayer.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that this Court may issue a direction to the third respondent to conduct an enquiry and pass orders in accordance with law.
5. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 and 3 would submit that the third respondent is going to conduct a Peace Committee Meeting, in which the petitioner can participate.
6. Considering the submissions made by both sides, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the claim made by the petitioner either in the representation or in the affidavit filed in support of this Writ Petition, we direct the third respondent to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 21.04.2025, after giving sufficient opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with
law, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
7. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
[M.D.I.,J.] & [R.S.V.,J.] 08.05.2025 Index : Yes/No vsm To
1. The District Collector, Pudukottai District, Pudukottai.
2. The Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai District, Pudukottai.
3. The Thasildar,
4. The Inspector of Police, Gandharvakottai Police Station, Pudukottai District.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
and R.SAKTHIVEL, J.
vsm W.P.(MD)No.13949 of 2025 08.05.2025