Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 07.08.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.33176 & 33178 of 2025 G.Kasinathan S/o.Gurusamy ... Petitioner vs. 1.The Union Territory of Puducherry, represented by its Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Puducherry. 2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments, Puducherry. 3.The Administrative Officer, Kanni Koil, Mannatheswarar Thirukoil, Bahour Commune Puducherry. ... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned communication dated 30.07.2025 issued by the third respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently, direct the third respondent to permit the petitioner alone to perform and represent the role of the bridegroom (Lord Murugan) and 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 tied two Mangalyams during the Thirukalyanam - one each for Valli and Deivanai in the Valli Deivanai Thirukalyanam schedule to be held on 08.08.2025 at Kanni Koil, Mannatheswarar Thirukoil, Bahour Commune, Puducherry. For Petitioner : Mr.A.V.Raja For Respondents : Mr.R.Sreedhar, Additional Government Pleader (P) ***** O R D E R This writ petition has been filed challenging the communication dated 30.07.2025 issued by the third respondent and for a consequential direction to the third respondent to permit the petitioner alone to adorn the role of bridegroom (Lord Murugan) and tie the mangalyam during the Thirukalyanam to Valli and Deivanai in the festival that is going to be held on 08.08.2025 at Kanni Koil, Mannatheswarar Thirukoil, Bahour Commune, Puducherry. 2. Heard Mr.A.V.Raja, learned counsel for petitioner and Mr.R.Sreedhar, learned Additional Government Pleader (P) appearing for respondents. 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 3. The specific case of the petitioner is that he was appointed as the temple poosari by the third respondent during the year 1991 and from then on, every year, he is adorning the role of the bridegroom (Lord Murugan) and tying mangalyam to Valli and Deivanai. However, this time, through the impugned communication dated 30.07.2025, apart from the petitioner yet another person has also been given the role of Lord Murugan and hence, two persons are now going to tie mangalyam - one for Valli and another for Deivanai. According to the petitioner, this practice introduced by the third respondent affects the sentiments and there can be only one Murugan, who has to tie the mangalyam for Valli and Deivanai. Under such circumstances, the present writ petition has been filed before this Court. 4. In the considered view of this Court, the sentiment expressed by the petitioner is that there can be only one person, who can adorn the role of Murugan and tie the mangalyam for Valli and Deivanai. Till now, the petitioner was given that opportunity from the year 1991. Now one more person is introduced in the scene. As a result, this year, the third respondent wanted to have two Murugans to perform the tying of mangalyam in the neck of Valli and Deivanai. This practice introduced 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 by the third respondent may affect the sentiments of the devotees. Therefore, it will be more appropriate if only one person is made to act as the bridegroom (Lord Murugan). Hence, for this year, the other person named Nagarathinam can be permitted to be the bridegroom (Lord Murugan) and he can tie the mangalyam for Valli and Deivanai. This will sufficiently take care of the sentiments expressed by the petitioner. At the end of the day, neither the petitioner nor Nagarathinam are Murugan and they are only adorning the role of Murugan during the festival. If, according to the petitioner, he alone is entitled to be the bridegroom and it cannot be disturbed by the third respondent, the petitioner has to necessarily work out the remedy before the competent authority in this regard. For this year, the above arrangement shall be followed. This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 07.08.2025 Neutral Citation: Yes/No Index: Yes/no Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order gm 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 To 1.The Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Puducherry, Secretariat, Puducherry. 2.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments, Puducherry. 3.The Administrative Officer, Kanni Koil, Mannatheswarar Thirukoil, Bahour Commune Puducherry. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 N.ANAND VENKATESH, J gm Writ Petition No.29606 of 2025 07.08.2025 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis