Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 27.06.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 Devaraj S/o.Raja ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. 2.The Joint Commissioner, Joint Commissioner Office, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Trust Hospital Building (Near), Erode District-638 001. 3.The Assistant Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Office, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Ex.Jawans Bhavan Building, Erode District-638 001. 4.The Fit Person, Arulmigu Bantheshwarar Temple, Devar Malai, Bargur Village, Anthiyur, Erode. ... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 India seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to continue the age-old custom by permitting him to lead the procession and receive the honours on Maha Periya Kundam festival to be held on 03.06.2025 to 02.07.2025 and grant such other relief deem fit. For Petitioner : Mr.D.Nandhagopal, For Respondents : Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, Special Government Pleader ***** O R D E R This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing respondents to permit the petitioner to lead the procession and receive the honours during Maha Periya Kundam festival to be held from 03.06.2025 to 02.07.2025. 2. Heard Mr.D.Nandhagopal, learned counsel for petitioner and Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for respondents. 3. The case of the petitioner is that the Kumbhabhishekam for the temple was not held for several decades and ultimately, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department decided to conduct Kumbhabhishekam on 06.06.2025. While so, a private party attempted to create law and order problem and was trying to prevent the Hindu 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 Religious and Charitable Endowments Department from conducting the Kumbhabhishekam. A writ petition was filed before this Court in W.P.No.20232 of 2025 and it was disposed of on 05.06.2025 by directing the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to conduct Kumbhabhishekam and accordingly, the Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 06.06.2025. 4. The further case of the petitioner is that it is a custom of 33 villages situated around the vicinity to celebrate the Maha Periya Kundam festival. In that festival, the idols from various temples will be brought. During this festival, the petitioner's family must lead the procession and receive the first honour. According to the petitioner, his grandfather, during his life time, was leading the procession and was receiving the first honour, thereafter, his father continued to get the first honour. Now, the petitioner is claiming for receiving the first honour and to lead the procession. A representation was made in this regard and since the same was not considered, the present writ petition was filed before this Court. 5. In many of the temple festivals, the main reason as to why a dispute starts and ends in a law and order problem is because of so called custom where first honour is being given to a particular family. The 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 devotees go to a temple to be one with God and to loose their ego. Unfortunately, the devotees also have the habit of asking for first honour or to lead the procession during a festival. By making such a claim, they are only trying to project themselves above God and it defeats the very purpose of conducting festival. Unfortunately, such customs are prevalent in the State of Tamil Nadu for a long time and at some stage, the devotees must be told that they cannot seek for first honour or for leading a procession and that they are not present during the festival to show their superiority and influence in a particular village. Like every other devotee, the petitioner and his family must participate in the festival. The petitioner and his family should not assume that they are greater in some way than the other devotees, who come and participate in the festival. Following customs of this nature goes against the whole purpose of conducting temple festivals and it goes against the very purpose of religion. If everyone is equal before God, then no one should seek for getting the first honour or for leading a procession. If the same is permitted, the concerned person is actually projecting that he is more than equal than the others in the presence of God. These practices must be stopped at some stage. 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 6. In view of the above discussion, the relief as sought for by the petitioner cannot be granted by this Court. It is left open to the petitioner and his family to attend the festival like all the other devotees, who come to the festival. This Court hopes that better sense will prevail. This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No costs. 27.06.2025 Neutral Citation: Yes/No Index: yes/no Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order gm To 1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. 2.The Joint Commissioner, Joint Commissioner Office, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Trust Hospital Building (near), Erode District-638 001. N.ANAND VENKATESH, J gm 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 3.The Assistant Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Office, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Ex.Jawans Bhavan Building, Erode District-638 001. 4.The Fit Person, Arulmigu Bantheshwarar Temple, Devar Malai, Bargur Village, Anthiyur, Erode. Writ Petition No.23290 of 2025 27.06.2025 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis