Sokkaiya v. State Of Tamilnadu Represented By Its The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 14.07.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI Sokkaiya ... Petitioner versus State of Tamilnadu rep. by its

1. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Sivagangai,

2. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police,

3. The Tahsildar, Manamadurai Taluk Office, Manamadurai (Taluk)

4. The Inspector of Police, Sipcot Police Station, Manamadurai,

5. Chokkan ... Respondents 1/6

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the constitution of India, seeking for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take immediate action against the 5th respondent for their illegal act of ex-communicating the petitioner and his family, based on the petitioner's representation dated 08.07.2025 and consequently direct the respondents 3 and 4 to collect temple tax from the petitioner's family and ensure their participation in the "Varuda Abhishekam" festival of Sri Kalla Vettai Ayyanar Temple, situated at Paraiyanukulam Village, Manamadurai Taluk, Sivagangai District, scheduled on 12.07.2025 and 13.07.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Selvakumar For R1 and R3 : Mr.F.Deepak, Special Government Pleader For R2 and R4 : Mr.E.Antony Sahaya Prabahar, Additional Public Prosecutor For R5 : Mr.I.Pinayagash

ORDER

The petitioner, with an allegation that the 5th respondent has excommunicated him and his family members from the village, has submitted a representation to the official respondents and filed this writ petition seeking a Writ of Mandamus to the officials to take action as against the 5th respondent for having excommunicated him and his family members by considering his representation dated 08.07.2025 and to direct the respondents 3 and 4 to collect temple tax from him and ensure their 2/6

participation in the "Varuda Abhishekam" festival of Sri Kalla Vettai Ayyanar Temple, situated at Paraiyanukulam Village, Manamadurai Taluk, Sivagangai District, scheduled to be held on 12.07.2025 and 13.07.2025.

2. When this writ petition is taken up for hearing, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the temple festival was over and therefore, nothing survives in this writ petition.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the 5th respondent submits that the petitioner is demanding poojari right, whereas, he has made an allegation as if he has been excommunicated.

4. The Inspector of Police, Sipcot Police Station, Manamadurai, Sivagangai District, has filed a report stating that during the temple festival, there was a dispute between the petitioner and one Chokkan and they have not collected the tax and thereafter, on the advice of the police, tax has been collected and the opposite parties also undertook that they would conduct the festival by allowing the petitioner to participate in the temple festival. 3/6

5. Recording the same, this Writ Petition is closed with a direction to the respondent Police to ensure that there is no such practice of discriminating a person from participating in the temple festival in the village. In the event, if anybody takes the law into their hands, necessary action has to be taken as against those persons. No costs. 14.07.2025 ogy NCC : Yes / No.

Index : Yes / No.

Internet : Yes / No.

To

1. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Sivagangai,

2. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police,

3. The Tahsildar, Manamadurai Taluk Office, Manamadurai (Taluk) 4/6

4. The Inspector of Police, Sipcot Police Station, Manamadurai,

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

5/6

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

ogy 14.07.2025 6/6