C.Veeramanikandan v. The Commissioner

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 09.10.2023

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH C.Veeramanikandan ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Commissioner, Directorate of Art and Culture, Tamil Valarchi Valagam, Tamil Salai, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.

2.The Joint Director, Directorate of Art and Culture, Tamil Valarchi Valagam, Tamil Salai, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.

3.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram, Ramanathapuram District.

4.The Regional Assistant Director, Art and Cultural Centre, Madurai Region, Bharathi Ula Road, 1st Street, Tallakulam, Madurai - 6250 002.

...Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to grant Art and Cultural Awards, namely, "Kalai Elamani", "Kalai Valarmani", "Kalai Sudarmani", "Kalai Nanmani" and "Kalai Muthumani" to the deserving persons having origin of the respective Districts and further direct the Respondents to take action upon the erroneous consideration while granting award in the Ramanathapuram District, to the persons of Districts other than Ramanathapuruam District for the year 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2015-16.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.R.Laxman For Respondents : Ms.D.Farjana Ghoushia, Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed for the issue of writ of mandamus directing the second respondent to grant Art and Cultural Awards, viz., "Kalai Elamani", "Kalai Valarmani", "Kalai Sudarmani", "Kalai Nanmani" and "Kalai Muthumani" to the persons having their origin in the respective Districts and to consider only those persons for grant of the award.

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2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.

3. The present Writ Petition is filed by a person belonging to the Ramanathapuram District. According to the petitioner, the five awards, viz., "Kalai Elamani", "Kalai Valarmani", "Kalai Sudarmani", "Kalai Nanmani" and "Kalai Muthumani" are to be given only to those persons, who have their origin in the respective Districts. According to the petitioner, he is a Violin Artist belonging to the Ramanathapuram District and every time, when the applications are considered, the persons belonging to a different District is being given the award. To substantiate the same, the particulars of the award given during the period 2007-2008, 2011-12, 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 are given at Paragraph No.9 of the affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petition.

4. The petitioner wants the award to be given only to those persons having their origin in the respective Districts and not to allow persons belonging to other Districts to get the award at Ramanathapuram 3/6

District and thereby, deprive the eligible persons in Ramanathapuram District from getting the awards.

5. The first respondent has filed a counter-affidavit. The counter-affidavit gives the various details as to how the Selection Committee has chosen the awards and are all constituted the Committee while recognizing the Artists for the award.

6. The learned Special Government Pleader submitted that as per the counter and as per the instructions received from the first respondent, the five awards, viz., "Kalai Elamani", "Kalai Valarmani", "Kalai Sudarmani", "Kalai Nanmani" and "Kalai Muthumani" will be given only to those deserving persons having origin in the respective Districts and not to persons coming from the other Districts.

7. In the light of the specific stand taken by the first respondent and the submission made by the learned Special Government Pleader, it is made clear that the five awards, viz., "Kalai Elamani", "Kalai Valarmani", "Kalai Sudarmani", "Kalai Nanmani" and "Kalai Muthumani" 4/6

shall be given only to those deserving persons having origin to the respective Districts and insofar as the Ramanathapuram District is concerned, the award will be given only to the deserving persons having their origin at Ramanathapuram District. The persons belonging to other Districts / native Districts will not be considered for the award when the eligible persons are selected at Ramanathapuram District. This clarity will sufficiently take care of the grievance expressed by the petitioner,

8. This Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. 09.10.2023 NCC:yes/no Index:yes/no Internet:yes/no tsg To 1.The Commissioner, Directorate of Art and Culture, Tamil Valarchi Valagam, Tamil Salai, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.

2.The Joint Director, Directorate of Art and Culture, Tamil Valarchi Valagam, Tamil Salai, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.

N.ANAND VENKATESH, J.

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tsg 3.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram, Ramanathapuram District.

4.The Regional Assistant Director, Art and Cultural Centre, Madurai Region, Bharathi Ula Road, 1st Street, Tallakulam, Madurai - 6250 002.

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