W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 23.06.2025 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 G.Velpandi ... Petitioner versus 1.The Commissioner Hindu Religious Charitable and Endowment Board, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. 2.The District Collector Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 3.The Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 4.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious Charitable and Endowment Board, Alagesapuram, nearby Roundana of American Hospital, Thoothukudi District. 5.The Revenue Divisional Officer Kovilpatti Sub Division, Thoothukudi District. 6.The Tahsildar, Vilathikulam Taluk, Vilathikulam, Thoothukudi District. 1/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 7.The Inspector of Police Vilathikulam Police Station, Thoothukudi District. 8. Subramanian 9.R.Narasimman 10.Paramasivan (Watchman) Sri Narasimma Perumal Temple, Kottanatham, Kurulaiyampatti, Vilathikulam Taluk, Thoothukudi District. ... Respondents [R10 is impleaded vide order dated 18.06.2025 in WPMPCrl(MD)No.38 of 2025] Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the constitution of India, seeking for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the 1 to 7 respondents to take necessary action against the 8th and 9th respondents by considering the petitioner's representation dated 31.05.2025 and thereby allow the petitioner and other pankalies to worship the Kulatheivam kovil with poojaries, who knows Aagama rules on 21.06.2025 and 22.06.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Tamil Vanan For Respondent : Mr. E.Antony Sahaya Prabahar Nos.3 & 7 Additional Public Prosecutor For Respondent : Mr.F.Deepak, Nos.2,5 & 6 Special Government Pleader For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Madhavan, Nos.1 and 4 Additional Government Pleader 2/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 For Respondent : No appearance No.8 ORDER The petitioner claiming to be one of the 400 pangalis for the temple namely Sri Narasimma Perumal Kovil situated in Kuralaiyampatti village, Vilathikularm taluk, Thoothukudi district has filed this writ petition seeking a direction to the Inspector of Police Vilathikulam Police station to take action as against the 8th and 9th respondents. 2.The grievance of the petitioner is that the persons, who are in the administration of the temple are not permitting the petitioner to offer his prayer in the temple and they have locked the temple by appointing a Watchman. 3.When this writ petition was taken up for hearing a representation was made that the subject temple is under the 3/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 administration of the HR& CE Department and a Fit Person has been appointed. 3.This court considering the above submission by order dated 05.06.2025 directed this petitioner to implead the Fit Person, who is administering the subject temple, as a party to this writ petition. Though this court directed the petitioner to implead the Fit Person, the petitioner has filed an application to implead the Watchmen of the temple, but not the Fit Person. However, the Fit Person is present before this court during the hearing and submits that there is no impediment for the pangalis or public to offer their prayers in the temple. According to the Fit Person, the temple remains opened from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 4.Recording the submissions of the Fit Person, who is present before this court, this writ petition is closed with a direction to the Fit Person to ensure that everyone is permitted to offer their prayer in the 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 subject temple. If anybody is taking the law into their hands, by closing the temple, action needs to be taken as against those persons, to ensure that everyone is permitted to offer prayer in the temple. No costs. 23.06.2025 DSK To 1.The Commissioner Hindu Religious Charitable and Endowment Board, No.119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. 2.The District Collector Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 3.The Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 4.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious Charitable and Endowment Board, Alagesapuram, nearby Roundana of American Hospital, Thoothukudi District. 5.The Revenue Divisional Officer Kovilpatti Sub Division, Thoothukudi District. 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 6.The Tahsildar, Vilathikulam Taluk, Vilathikulam, Thoothukudi district. 7.The Inspector of Police Vilathikulam police station, Thoothukudi district. 8.The Fit Person, Sri Narasimma Perumal Temple, Kottanatham, Kurulaiyampatti, Vilathikulam Taluk, Thoothukudi District. 9. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 6/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 B.PUGALENDHI, J. DSK W.P.Crl.(MD)No.63 of 2025 23.06.2025 7/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis