Rajangam v. The District Collector,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 16.09.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN Rajangam ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Madurai District.

2.The Superintendent of Police, Madurai District.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Madurai District.

4.The Tahsildhar, Vadipatti Taluk, Madurai District.

5.The Inspector of Police, Vadipatti Police Station, Madurai District.

... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 4th and 5th respondents to remove the Temporary obstruction with their used coconut tree leafs in front side of the private Building and to 1/6

remove the gunny bags from the Statue of freedom fighter namely Paumpon Muthu Ramalainga Dhevar in old Survey No.245 and Re-Survey No.297/16 at Mettu Neerathan Village, Neerathan Revenue Village, Vadipatti Taluk, Madurai District.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Udhayakumar For Respondents : Mr.S.Kameshwaran, Government Advocate for R1, R3 & R4.

Mr.A.Albert James, Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side) for R2 & R5.

ORDER

Heard both sides.

2.The petitioner is a resident of Mettuneerathan Village in Vadipatti Taluk. The statue of late leader of Shree Pasumpon Muthu Ramalingam had been installed in his residential premises. The statue was facing the road side. Since objections were received from Pillaimar community, the revenue officials covered the statue with gunny bags and also erected screen so that it will not be visible from the road side. This had happened quite some time back.

2/6

3.This writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents to remove the screen as well as the covering. The learned counsel for the petitioner draws my attention to the order dated 28.02.2025 made in W.A.(MD)No.1386 of 2022. The Hon'ble Division Bench to which I was also party, had held as follows:- "5.After a careful consideration of G.O.(Ms)No.183 Revenue Department dated 23.05.2017, we are of the view that it applies only to public places and not to patta lands. It is, of course, open to the Government to bring in a law regulating erection of statues even in private places. But then, so long as such a law has not been enacted, by issuing circulars and Government Orders, the right of an individual to put up a statue in one's patta land cannot be taken away."

4.The respondents need not be saddled with any additional responsibility. The petitioner himself can remove the obstructions as well as the gunny bags. The right of the petitioner to keep the aforesaid statue installed in his premises is upheld.

3/6

5.This writ petition is disposed of as mentioned above. No costs. 16.09.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:

1.The District Collector, Madurai District.

2.The Superintendent of Police, Madurai District.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Madurai District.

4.The Tahsildhar, Vadipatti Taluk, Madurai District.

5.The Inspector of Police, Vadipatti Police Station, Madurai District.

4/6

5/6

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

ias 16.09.2025 6/6