Asaraf Ali v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 01.09.2022

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN Asaraf Ali ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Pudukottai District, Pudukottai.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukottai District.

3.The Tahsildar, Aranthangi, Pudukottai District.

4.M.Thajeetheen 5.S.Abdul Salam 6.S.Ersath Ali 7.N.Ayoobkhan @ Yusufkhan ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st to 3rd respondents herein to take necessary actions for the inclusion of the petitioner's 40 families in the Jummah Mosque situated in Melamangalam Village, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukottai District and to practice their customary 1/4

rites and rituals without any intervention or hindrance of the 4th to 7th Respondent, based on the petitioner's representation dated 18.06.2022. For Petitioner : Ms.A.Banumathy For Respondents : Mr.K.Balasubramani, Spl. Government Pleader for R1 to R3.

Mr.D.Rameshkumar for R4 & R5.

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel on either side.

2.The petitioner alleges that some forty families have been excluded from participating in Jummah Mosque activities in Melamangalam Village in Aranthangi Taluk. It is further alleged that they are not allowed to offer their worship and that the mosque authorities are not entering the marriages in nikah register and they are not giving no objection, when sought for. 3.Though such allegations have been made in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, when the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned counsel for the respondents 4 and 5, who are the president and vice president of Jummah Mosque, Melamangalam Village categorically informed the Court that the petitioner as well as the other forty families mentioned by 2/4

him can very well take part on equal footing like other members of the community. In other words, the petitioner and others can very well offer their worship and there was no prevention at any point of time and there will not be any prevention in future also.

4.Recording the said submission, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

01.09.2022 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:

1.The District Collector, Pudukottai District, Pudukottai.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukottai District.

3.The Tahsildar, Aranthangi, Pudukottai District.

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

ias 01.09.2022 4/4