S.Selvarasu v. The Superintendent Of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.08.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI S.Selvarasu Petitioner Vs.

1.The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District.

2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, No:18, Karur to Vedachandur Road, Rajagopalapuram, Vedachandur, Dindigul District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Kujiliamparai Police Station, Kujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

4.Ramasamy 5.Thangavel Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to grant permission to conduct temple festival events and to provide police protection by considering the representation sent by the petitioner dated 26.06.2025.

1/6

For Petitioner:

Mr.A.Vignesh For R1 to R3:

Mr.E.Antony Sahaya Prabahar, Additional Public Prosecutor.

For R4 & R5:

No Appearance

ORDER

The petitioner, who is a resident of Mathanaickanur, Kujiliamparai Village, Dindigul District, has filed this petition seeking a direction to the respondent Police to grant permission and police protection to conduct temple festival of Sri Seelakkamal Temple.

2.According to the petitioner, there are 41 families in the village and they are worshipping the deities, which are installed under banyan tree. The petitioner claims that the entire villagers have performed Kumbabishekam in the year 2024. For this year, permission has not been granted for the temple festival and therefore, the petitioner filed the present petition.

2/6

3.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the official respondents submits that there are two groups in the village. The respondents 4 & 5 are belonging to other group and they are having certain issues with the petitioner. Considering the rivalry between the two groups, they have not granted permission.

4.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner disputes the above averment and submits that there is no rivalry between the parties. The respondents 4 & 5 are insisting to give 'First Honour' to them in the temple festival and on account of the same, they are creating problem. He further submits that the villagers are also prepared to give the 'First Honour'. However, at the instance of the respondents 4 & 5, the respondent Police are not granting permission to conduct the temple festival. 5.It appears that the petitioner has also lodged a complaint as against the private respondents, based on which, an enquiry has been initiated in CSR.No.445 of 2025 dated 28.06.2025.

3/6

6.Earlier, this Court ordered notice to the private respondents. Though notice has been served and the names of the private respondents were printed in the cause list, there is no representation on behalf of the private respondents.

7.The case of the petitioner is that the private respondents are insisting for 'First Honour' and on account of the same, they are creating problems and preventing the temple festival. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor has also confirmed that the issue is on account of providing 'First Honour'.

8.The Tamil Nadu Government has already taken a policy decision that there cannot be any 'First Honour' to anybody in the temple festivals, in any temples. On account of this issue of providing 'First Honour', a temple festival cannot be prevented. Therefore, this Court directs the respondent Police to permit the petitioner to conduct the temple festival with reasonable restrictions and shall also ensure that no one is provided 'First Honour' during the temple festival. The respondent Police shall also 4/6

ensure that the policy decision of the Government is complying in a strict sense.

9.With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

11.08.2025 gns Note: Issue Order Copy on 12.08.2025.

To 1.The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District.

2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, No:18, Karur to Vedachandur Road, Rajagopalapuram, Vedachandur, Dindigul District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Kujiliamparai Police Station, Kujiliamparai, Dindigul District.

4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

5/6

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

gns 11.08.2025 6/6