Rajendran v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Date : 09.05.2025 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL W.P.(MD)No.14098 of 2025 & W.M.P.(MD)No.10219 of 2025 Rajendran ... Petitioner Vs 1.The District Collector, Trichy District, Trichy.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Musiri Revenue Division, Musiri, Trichy District.
3.The Tahsildar, Thottiyam Taluk, Thottiyam, Trichy District.
4.State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by The Inspector of Police, Thottiyam Police Station, Thottiyam, Trichy District.
5.Manickam 6.Kalimuthu ... Respondents 1/7
For Petitioner :
Mr.C.Aravind For Respondents :
Mr.M.Lingadurai, Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3 Mr.A.Thiruvadi Kumar, Additional Public Prosecutor for R4 Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 2 to 4 respondents to constitute a peace committee meeting with regard to Chithra Pournami festival in Arulmigu Sree Mahamariyamman Temple Situated at Ammankudi Village, Thottiyam Taluk, Trichy District and pass appropriate orders on the basis of petitioner's representation dated 03.05.2025.
O R D E R
The petitioner filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to direct the respondents 2 to 4 to constitute a peace committee meeting with regard to 'Chithra Pournami festival' in Arulmigu Sree Mahamariyamman Temple Situated at Ammankudi Village, Thottiyam Taluk, Trichy District and pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's representation dated 03.05.2025. 2/7
2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3 and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor for R4 and perused the affidavit filed in support of the petition.
3. The grievance of the petitioner is that the fifth respondent filed a Writ Petition in W.P.(MD)No.10147 of 2025 to direct the Superintendent of Police, Trichy District and Inspector of Police, Thottiyam Police Station to give permission to conduct the Chithra Pournami Festival in front of Sri Mahamariamman Temple, situated at Ammankudi Village, Thottiyam Taluk, Trichy District on 11.05.2025 and 12.05.2025 and this Court vide order dated 15.04.2025 ordered as follows. "6.According to the petitioner, they have decided to celebrate Chithra Pournami festival at Sri Mahamariamman Temple and during the event they have decided to conduct distribution of Annathanam and Siruthondar Drama, on 11.05.2025 and 12.05.2025 and the same was rejected, after filing of this petition, without any valid ground.
According to the respondents police, they have rejected the request of the petitioner on the ground that in the year 2021, during the festival there was a law and order problem between the parties and both parties involved in rioting and the respondent police have also registered cases against them.
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7.The prayer of the petitioner is to conduct distribution of Annathanam and Siruthondar Drama, on 11.05.2025 and 12.05.2025 on the eve of Chithra Pournami festival and the rejection order is passed without any valid reasons by citing the dispute arosen in the year 2021. Now the petitioner is ready to conduct the event without any law and order problem. The respondent police ought to have granted permission by imposing some conditions, instead of rejecting the request. Therefore, the order passed by the 3rd respondent by declining to grant permission to conduct Annathanam and Siruthondar Drama on 11.05.2025 and 12.05.2025 is liable to be set aside.
8.In view of the above, this writ petition is allowed by setting aside the rejection order of the 2nd respondent, dated 13.04.2025 and this Court directs the 2nd respondent to grant permission for conducting distribution of Annathanam and Siruthondar Drama, on 11.05.2025 and 12.05.2025 on the eve of Chithra Pournami festival at Sri Mahamariamman Temple, situated at Ammankudi Village, Thottiyam Taluk, Trichy District, by imposing necessary conditions. The petitioner is also directed not to create any law and order problem, during the event.
10. With the above said observations and directions, this writ petition stands disposed of."
4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that on the strength of the aforementioned mentioned order, the fifth respondent has planned to prevent the petitioner in participating and worshipping the God. Hence, the learned counsel prays to pass limited prayer permitting 4/7
the petitioner to participate and worship the God during festival time. Needless to mention here that General Public including the petitioner is entitled to participate and worship the God Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman. Hence, this Court is inclined to accede the request made by the learned counsel for the petitioner. Accordingly, this Court passes the following order:- (i) The fifth respondent shall not prevent the petitioner in participating and worshipping the Deity at Sri Mahamariamman Temple, situated at Ammankudi Village, Thottiyam Taluk, Trichy District during Chithra Pournami Festival on 11.05.2025 and 12.05.2025.
(ii) If the fifth respondent prevents the petitioner or cause any obstruction to the petitioner in participating as well as worshipping the God during above festival times, the petitioner shall lodge a complaint before the jurisdictional police station. In such a case, jurisdictional police station shall initiate actions against the perpetrators as per law.
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5. To the above extent, this Writ Petition is ordered. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. (R S V J) 09.05.2025 mbi To 1.The District Collector, Trichy District, Trichy.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Musiri Revenue Division, Musiri, Trichy District.
3.The Tahsildar, Thottiyam Taluk, Thottiyam, Trichy District.
4.The Inspector of Police, Thottiyam Police Station, Thottiyam, Trichy District.
5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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R.SAKTHIVEL,J mbi Date : 09.05.2025 7/7