Mahalingam v. The Commissioner Of Police
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 16.08.2024 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.MURALI SHANKAR W.P.(MD)No.19756 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD)No.16746 of 2024 Mahalingam
...Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Commissioner of Police, Thirupparankundram, Madurai.
2.The Inspector of Police, W1 Thirunagar Police Station, Madurai.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the Na.Ka.No.124/W1 L&O PS/MC/ 2024 dated 11.08.2024 passed by the second respondent and quash the same as illegal, arbitrary, violation of natural justice and consequently direct the respondents to provide police protection and permission to conduct adal padal programmes on 18.08.2024 in eve of the Arulmigu Sri Veyil Uganthamman Temple Annual festival of Sekkadi Street, Devi Nagar, Pasumpon Main Road, Thirupparankundram, Madurai. 1/8
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Palanisamy For Respondents : Mr.E.Antony Sahaya Prabahar Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
The Writ Petition is directed against the order dated 11.08.2024 passed by the second respondent and for further directions to the respondents to provide police protection and permission to conduct adal padal programme on 18.08.2024 in eve of the Arulmigu Sri Veyil Uganthamman Temple Annual festival of Sekkadi Street, Devi Nagar, Pasumpon Main Road, Thirupparankundram, Madurai.
2. Mr.E.Antony Sahaya Prabahar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor takes notice for the respondents. By consent, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner would submit that "Annual Festival" of Arulmigu Sri Veyil Uganthamman Temple, Sekkadi Street, Devi Nagar, Pasumpon Main Road, Thirupparankundram, Madurai, is going to be held from 15.08.2024 to 2/8
18.08.2024 and subsequent to the same, in order to conduct "Adal Padal" programme on 18.08.2024, they sought permission by giving a representation dated 11.08.2024 before the second respondent, that the second respondent has passed the impugned order dated 11.08.2024 rejecting the permission and that therefore, the writ petitioner was constrained to approach this Court.
4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents would submit that the proposed place is a main road and if the above said programme is conducted in the proposed venue, it may cause traffic jams and on that ground, they rejected the permission and that subject to the change of venue, they are ready to consider the writ petitioner's representation. He would further submit the organizers may be directed to follow the conditions, which were given by the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in W.P(MD)No.12535 of 2023, dated 24.05.2023.
5. At this juncture, the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner would submit that they are ready to change the venue and they 3/8
will follow the directions of the Hon'ble Division Bench without any deviation.
6. It is necessary to refer the directions issued by the Hon'ble Division Bench in W.P.(MD)No.12535 of 2023, dated 24.05.2023. "15. Therefore, this Court, in order to give a quietus to such issues, disposes of this writ petition with the following directions:
(a) On the seventh day from the date of the receipt of the representation, for the conduct of the cultural program (Adal Padal), associated with any temple festival, if the authorities do not take steps either to grant permission or reject permission, there shall be a deemed permission on the eighth day;
(b) On such deemed permission, the organisers, who shall be the responsible members of the festival committee, shall ensure that only cultural programs having some relevance to the temple or the festival in question would be conducted and there shall not be any obscene display/dance being conducted;
(c) The program shall not extend beyond 10 p.m.; (d) No women participating in the cultural program would be depicted or portrayed in an obscene or undignified manner either in the form of clothing or 4/8
otherwise;
(e) The music that shall be used shall be in sync with the precincts of the temple and double meaning songs should not be played;
(f) There shall be no supply of alcohol or any intoxicating material in and around the area where cultural program is scheduled to be held;
In case of violation of any conditions, it is open to the authorities to initiate such action as is required under law and the persons who are the organisers/committee members shall be held responsible. The Public Prosecutors shall ensure circulation of this order to the Superintendent of Police of all the Districts for issuing suitable instructions to their subordinate officers. No costs."
7. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, Chennai had issued a circular memorandum in Rc.007301/Genl.I (1)/2019, dated 09.04.2019, along with instructions to the Inspectors of Police throughout Tamil Nadu for consideration of applications seeking permission for conducting cultural programme. Therefore, in view of the detailed circular and guidelines issued by the Director General of Police and taking note of the 5/8
undertaking on behalf of the writ petitioner that they will follow the direction of the Hon'ble Division Bench and also the fact that the writ petitioner's representation for conducting Adal Padal programme came to be rejected, the writ petitioner is directed to give a fresh representation incorporating the venue and date and time of the Adal Padal programme to the second respondent and on such receipt of the same, the second respondent is directed to consider the same and pass suitable orders tomorrow itself (17.08.2024) based on the above said circular.
8. With the above directions, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs. 16.08.2024 NCC :Yes/No Index :Yes/No Internet : Yes/ No csm Note : Issue order copy today (16.08.2024) To 1.The Commissioner of Police, Thirupparankundram, Madurai.
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2.The Inspector of Police, W1 Thirunagar Police Station, Madurai.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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K.MURALI SHANKAR, J csm Order made in W.P.(MD)No.19756 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD)No.16746 of 2024 Dated : 16.08.2024 8/8