F.Antony Muthu v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.11.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN F.Antony Muthu ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.
2.The Tahsildar, Thiruchendur Taluk, Thiruchendur, Thoothukudi District.
3.The Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.
4.The Inspector of Police, Kalugumalai Police Station, Thoothukudi District.
5.Johnson Raj Father of Saint Thanisilas Church, Chokkankudiyiruppu, Tuticorin District.
6.Siluvai Michael 7.T.Jeya Anand Selvan ... Respondents Page No. 1 of 5
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the first to fourth respondents to conduct an enquiry and take appropriate actions against the private respondents and their men for excommunicating the petitioner's family and other eighteen families from their Chokkankudiyiruppu Village and thereby issue a direction to the private respondents and their men to collect head tax from them and permit them to perform their rites in the Saint Thanisalas Church Festival scheduled on 06.11.2024 to 10.11.2024 based on the petitioner's representation dated 16.10.2024 within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Mohamed Haneef For R1 & R2 : Mr.N.Ramesh Arumugam Government Advocate (Civil Side) For R3 & R4 : Mr.R.Meenakshi Sundaram Additional Public Prosecutor For R5 : Mr.P.Vetrivel For R6 : Mr.S.Vinayak *****
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first to fourth respondents to consider the petitioner's representation dated 16.10.2024, conduct an enquiry, and take Page No. 2 of 5
appropriate action against the private respondents and their men for excommunicating the petitioner's family and eighteen other families from their Chokkankudiyiruppu Village, and consequently issue a direction to the private respondents and their men to collect head tax from them and permit them to perform their rites in the Saint Thanisalas Church Festival scheduled from 06.11.2024 to 10.11.2024.
2. The learned counsel for the fifth and sixth respondents would submit that they are not excommunicating the petitioner and that they have no objection to the petitioner paying the tax as demanded by the villagers.
3. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the third and fourth respondents, on instructions, would submit that the Tahsildar had directed an enquiry; that the allegations with regard to the excommunication of the petitioner and others have not been substantiated; and that the private respondents have also stated that they have no objection to the collection of tax from the petitioner and the other eighteen families. Page No. 3 of 5
4. Recording the above submissions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. However, as regards the other rights claimed by the petitioner, it is open to him to seek appropriate relief before the Civil Court. No costs. 11.11.2025 JEN Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order / Non-Speaking Order Copy To:
1.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.
2.The Tahsildar, Thiruchendur Taluk, Thiruchendur, Thoothukudi District.
3.The Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.
4.The Inspector of Police, Kalugumalai Police Station, Thoothukudi District.
5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
Page No. 4 of 5
SUNDER MOHAN , J.
JEN 11.11.2025 Page No. 5 of 5