Koottapanai Sri Mari Amman Kovil Administrative Committee v. The Superintendent Of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 03.09.2024 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.MURALI SHANKAR W.P.(MD)No.20964 of 2024 Koottapanai Sri Mari Amman Kovil Administrative Committee, rep. by its President M.Gopal Konar

...Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.

2.The Sub-Collector, Cheranmagadevi Sub-Division, Cheranmagadevi, Tirunelveli District.

3.The Tahsildar, Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District.

4.The Inspector of Police, Uvari Police Station, Tirunelveli District.

... Respondents 1/6

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 and 4 to grant permission and protection to celebrate the Avani Kodai Vizha and subsequent Dasaratha Vizha in Koottapanai Sri Mari Amman Kovil Temple as per the resolution taken in the peace committee meeting held under the presence of the second respondent dated 28.09.2022 based on the petitioner's representation dated 13.07.2024 submitted to the first respondent in person. For Petitioner : Mr.SP.Naveen Kumar For R1 & R4 : Mr.E.Antony Sahaya Prabahar Additional Public Prosecutor For R2 & R3 : Mr.M.Muthumanikkam Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

ORDER

The Writ Petition has been filed, invoking Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking orders to direct the respondents 1 and 4 to grant permission and protection to celebrate the Avani Kodai Vizha and subsequent Dasaratha Vizha in Koottapanai Sri Mari Amman Kovil Temple as per the resolution taken in the peace committee meeting held under the presence of the second respondent dated 28.09.2022 based on 2/6

the writ petitioner's representation dated 13.07.2024 submitted to the first respondent in person.

2. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents 1 and 4 would submit that since two groups are claiming to celebrate the festival, a peace committee meeting came to be convened on 28.09.2022 and in that meeting, they decided to conduct the festival jointly and in pursuance of the said decision, festival came to be conducted in the years 2022 and 2023. He would further submit that in order to conduct the festival in 2024, the writ petitioner has given a representation and on that basis, enquiry was conducted and in the enquiry, both the writ petitioner as well as one Subramaniyan, who is heading the other group, have given statements that they will conduct the festival jointly without any issues.

3. Recording the same, if both the groups are willing to celebrate the festival jointly, the fourth respondent is directed to consider their representation and pass orders within a period of three days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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4. With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.

03.09.2024 NCC :Yes/No Index :Yes/No Internet : Yes/ No csm Note : Issue order copy on 09.09.2024 To 1.The Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.

2.The Sub-Collector, Cheranmagadevi Sub-Division, Cheranmagadevi, Tirunelveli District.

3.The Tahsildar, Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District.

4.The Inspector of Police, Uvari Police Station, Tirunelveli District.

5.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.20964 of 2024 Dated : 03.09.2024 6/6