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The petitioners in all these writ petitions pray for the issue of a Mandamus, to direct the concerned Authorities viz., the respective Inspectors of Police, to grant permission to the petitioners to conduct dance programmes on the occasion of the festival of the local temples.

2. I have heard the respective counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr.V.Jayaprakash Narayanan, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.

3. The case of the petitioners in all these writ petitions is almost the same. According to the petitioners, the people of the villages, in which the petitioners are residing, had decided to conduct the annual temple festival on different dates during February/March 2014 and that during the said festival, they want to conduct cultural dance programs. The petitioners claim that they sent representations to the Inspectors of Police of the local Police Stations and that since their representations were not considered, they had come up with these writ petitions, seeking a Mandamus to direct the respondents to permit them to conduct cultural dance programs during the festival.

4. Relying upon several orders passed by this Court allowing the writ petitions of identical nature, all the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners pray that similar orders, directing the respondents to permit the petitioners to conduct dance programmes may be passed, subject to any condition that may be imposed. Since there are several orders passed by this court, the learned Special and Additional Government Pleaders also do not oppose these writ petitions very seriously.

5. But unfortunately for the petitioners, the orders relied upon them do not indicate the proposition of law, if any, settled by this court on this issue. It is true that this Court has passed several orders, granting reliefs under identical circumstances. Almost, all those orders of the learned Single Judges of this Court, were passed on the basis of an order passed by a Division Bench of this Court in W.A.No.260 of 2010 dated 18.2.2010. Therefore, it is necessary to have a look at the order dated 18.2.2010 passed by the Division Bench.

3. The learned Additional Government Pleader by placing reliance on the earlier order submitted that permission could be granted to conduct dance programme subject to the conditions contained in the said order.
4. In view of the same, I am inclined to allow the writ petition subject to the following conditions:
(i) The dance programme should be conducted between 7.00 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. only.
(ii) Mikes with horn should not be used in the programme as that would cause disturbance to the students who are undertaking examinations.
(iii) Any dance or song in an obscene manner with double meaning conversations of any kind should never be permitted.
(iv) The programme should be conducted in a peaceful and organised manner without creating or causing any law and order problems.
(v) If there is any difficulty in conducting the dance programme on certain objections being raised, it is for the concerned police officer to take a decision.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would abide by these conditions without fail. His submission is recorded.