Madras High Court
R.Sethupathi vs The District Collector on 15 June, 2022
Author: M.Nirmal Kumar
Bench: M.Nirmal Kumar
W.P.(MD)No.11770 of 2022
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 15.06.2022
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR
W.P.(MD)No.11770 of 2022
R.Sethupathi ... Petitioner
Vs.
1. The District Collector,
Collectorate,
Sivagangai District,
Sivagangai.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Office of the Revenue Divisional Office,
Devakottai,
Sivagangai District.
3. The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,
No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai,
Nungambakkam,
Chennai.
4. The Joint Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,
No.40, Muthusamy Nagar,
Tirupathur Road,
Sivagangai District.
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W.P.(MD)No.11770 of 2022
5. The Fit Person,
Sri Sandiveeran Swamy Temple,
Vadavanpatti Village,
Singampunari Taluk,
Sivagangai District.
6. The Fit Person,
Sri Muninadhan Temple,
Vadavanpatti Village,
Singampunari Taluk,
Sivagangai District.
7. The Fit Person,
Koppudai Amman Temple,
Vadavanpatti Village,
Singampunari Taluk,
Sivagangai District.
8. The Fit Person,
Sri Piriyavidai Nainar - Ponnavidai Selvi Temple,
Vadavanpatti Village,
Singampunari Taluk,
Sivagangai District.
9. The Inspector of Police,
S.S.Kottai Police Station,
Sivagangai District.
10. Vellaisamy Periyambalam ... Respondents
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W.P.(MD)No.11770 of 2022
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the first to fourth
respondents to monitor the annual festivals and its connected Manjuvirattu
and Aani Erudhukattu Thiruvizha at fifth to eighth respondents temples in
Vadavanpatti Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District, without any
special honour (Mariyaadhai) to the tenth respondent and his Karai people.
For Petitioner : Mr.A.K.Hemaraj
For Respondents : Mr.M.Lingadurai
Spl Govt Pleader for R1-R4&R6-R9
Mr.P.Mahendran
Standing counsel for R5
ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 4 to monitor the annual festivals and to ensure that the same is conducted without giving any special honour to anyone.
2. The contention of the petitioner is that the tenth respondent and his Karai are claiming prestigious rights as they are the Rulers. Further, they _________ Page 3 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.11770 of 2022 are collecting amounts from the villagers, who have refused to give the amount, for conducting festival and other activities. They have been harassing the villagers. Therefore, the petitioner has sent a representation on 21.03.2022 to the Revenue and Police officials requesting not to give any preference or special honour to the tenth respondent. On receipt of the above said representation, the Peace Committee Meeting was held on 05.04.2022 in the presence of Tahsildar, Singampunari, Village Administrative Officer and other villagers. In the meeting, it was agreed that the annual festival would be conducted in a peaceful manner and it will not provide honour to anyone including the tenth respondent. However, the clan of tenth respondent are dominating / forcing the villagers to give the amount for conducting the festival. He further submitted that a similar relief was filed before this Court in W.P.(MD)No.10709 of 2021 on 29.06.2021. At that time, the learned Standing counsel for the Temple authorities had given an assurance that as and when the Temple festival is conducted, no one will be given preference or special honour and everybody will be treated as equal before God. Therefore, the same has to be implemented and followed.
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3. Mr.M.Lingadurai, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the Temple authorities submitted that everybody will be treated as equal before God and there is no special privilege extended to the tenth respondent or any other person.
4. The learned Standing counsel appearing for the fifth respondent submits that he is aware of the Peace Committee Meeting. Further, as per the custom of the Temple, there is no such privilege given to any person.
5. It is seen from the records that the Inspector of Police, who is the ninth respondent herein, has attended the Peace Committee Meeting, who is aware about the Temple festival. In that meeting, it was agreed between the parties that the temple festival would be conducted in a peaceful manner treating all of them as equal.
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6. Recording the submissions made by the learned Special Government Pleader, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
15.06.2022 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes / No vji To
1. The District Collector, Collectorate, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Office, Devakottai, Sivagangai District.
3. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai.
4. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No.40, Muthusamy Nagar, Tirupathur Road, Sivagangai District.
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5. The Fit Person, Sri Sandiveeran Swamy Temple, Vadavanpatti Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District.
6. The Fit Person, Sri Muninadhan Temple, Vadavanpatti Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District.
7. The Fit Person, Koppudai Amman Temple, Vadavanpatti Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District.
8. The Fit Person, Sri Piriyavidai Nainar - Ponnavidai Selvi Temple, Vadavanpatti Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District.
9. The Inspector of Police, S.S.Kottai Police Station, Sivagangai District.
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