Pandaram Chettiar v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 25.07.2023

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI and WMP(MD)Nos.14780, 14782, 14783 of 2023 Pandaram Chettiar ... Petitioner v.

1.The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Tenkasi 3.The Tahsildar, Alangulam Taluk, 4.The Inspector of Police, Pavoorchathiram Police Station, 5.Murugesan ... Respondents 1/6

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings of the third respondent in Na.Ka.A1/1003/2022 dated 07.07.2023, quash the same and consequently, directing the official respondents to grant permission along with adequate police protection on the basis of the representation dated 21.02.2023 to jointly celebrate the temple festival between 27.07.2023 to 30.07.2023 at the Periya Kovil situated at Keelappavoor Village, Alangulam Taluk, For Petitioner : Mr.B.Saravanan, Senior Counsel for Mr.A.C.Vinayagarajan For Respondents : Mr.M.Sarangan, Additional Government Pleader for R.1 to R.3 Mr.Vaikam Karunanidhi, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for R.4 Mr.S.Devarajan for R.5 ***** 2/6

ORDER

The petitioner is one of the devotees of a Temple, namely, Periya Kovil situated at Keelappavoor Village, Alangulam Taluk, Tenkasi District. It appears that there is a dispute between two groups in naming the Temple as Periya Kovil / Periya Samy Kovil. On account of this, a suit is also pending before the District Munsif Court, Alangulam, in OS.No.6 of 2021.

2.In the meantime, with an apprehension that there would be a commotion at the festival, the petitioner has filed WP(MD)No.14110 of 2023 before this Court for a mandamus directing the officials to consider the petitioner's representation for a joint festival at the Temple. In that writ petition, this Court, on 15.06.2023, directed the Tahsildar to conduct a peace committee meeting and to resolve the issue. Accordingly, a peace committee meeting was conducted by the Tahsildar, Alangulam on 14.07.2023 and a decision was also arrived upon. Challenging the decision taken in the peace committee meeting, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

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3.When the writ petition came up for hearing today, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner submitted that they have arrived upon an amicable settlement with regard to the conduct of the festival for this year. Since the petitioner group has conducted the festival in the previous year, they are not having any objections for the fifth respondent and group to conduct the festival for this year. For the other reliefs, they would work out their remedy before the Principal District Munsif Court, Alangulam, in the pending suit.

4.The said submission made by the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner is acceded to by the learned Counsel for the fifth respondent. 5.In view of the subsequent developments, this writ petition stands disposed of, by recording the submissions made by the learned Counsel on either side. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed. Index :

Yes / No 25.07.2023 NCC :

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To 1.The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Tenkasi 3.The Tahsildar, Alangulam Taluk, 4.The Inspector of Police, Pavoorchathiram Police Station, 5/6

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

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