W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.03.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI Writ Petition Crl.(MD)No.1367 of 2026 T.Rajavadivu ..Petitioner Vs 1.The District Collector, Tirunelveli District, Collector Office, Tirunelveli. 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Seranmagadevi, Tirunelveli District. 3.The Tahsildar, Thisayanvilai Taluk, Tirunelveli District. 4.The Inspector of Police, Uvari Police Station, Tirunelveli District. 5.Murugan 6.Suresh 7.Selvakumar 8.Ramesh ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to ensure and permit the petitioner and the other temple committee members to 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 peacefully participate in all the functions, rituals, arrangements and activities of the forthcoming temple Kodai festival in “Nadukkattu Esakki Amman Temple” and “Siva Sudalai Madasamy Temple” situated at Kundal Village, Karaisathu Uvari, Thisayanvilai Taluk, Tirunelveli District and consequently forbear the respondents 5 to 8 from in any manner obstructing or interfering with such participation. For Petitioner : Mr.C.Kannathasan For R1 to R3 : Mr.C.Satheesh Government Advocate (Civil side) For R4 : Mr.S.Ravi Additional Public Prosecutor For R5 to R8 : Mr.S.Saravanakumar ORDER Seeking direction to the respondents 1 to 4 to ensure and permit the petitioner and the other temple committee members to peacefully participate in all the functions, rituals, arrangements and activities of the forthcoming 'temple Kodai festival' in “Nadukkattu Esakki Amman Temple” and “Siva Sudalai Madasamy Temple” situated at Kundal Village, Karaisathu Uvari, Thisayanvilai Taluk, Tirunelveli District and consequently, forbear the respondents 5 to 8 from in any manner obstructing or interfering with such participation, this Writ Petition is filed. 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 2.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that “Nadukkattu Esakki Amman Temple” and “Siva Sudalai Madasamy Temple” are the ancestral/ family temples of the petitioner and community members of Kundal Village. The festival of the said temple are time to time conducted by the temple Committee and functionaries under one Chellaiah, who is the President of the Committee. The respondents 5 to 8, who are the earlier members of the Committee, have unlawfully taken control of the temple administration under the guise of “Temple Administration”, and they are excluding the petitioner and other committee members from participating in the administration and conduct of the forthcoming temple Kodai festival and religious functions and they are also preventing the petitioner and the others from participating in organizing the poojas and the connected functions. In this regard, the petitioner has lodged a complaint before the forth respondent police on 19.12.2025, following which, the fourth respondent has issued CSR in CSR No.607 of 2025. Since no effective steps were taken, the present petitioner is filed. 3.The learned counsel appearing for the respondents 5 to 8 submitted that the aforesaid temples are the private temple and the respondents 5 to 8 are actually the Committee members responsible for its administration. The petitioner and his men cannot in any manner interfere with the administration of 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 the temple, pooja and other related ceremonies of the said temples, which are being currently conducted by the respondents 5 to 8. 4.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the fourth respondent submitted that the matter is already taken note by the second respondent and very soon a Peace Committee Meeting will be convened. 5.The learned Government Advocate(civil) appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 submitted that the petitioner and team belong to Kundal Village and the respondents 5 to 8 and team belong to Kannakulam Village. Both the parties claim right of worship and right of administration over the temple in question on the guise of that the said temple is their ancestral /family temple. In this regard, already a complaint has been received from the petitioner and the matter is pending before the Executive Magistrate, who is the second respondent herein. 6.Heard the learned counsel on either side and carefully persued the materials available on record. 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 7.It is seen that “Nadukkattu Esakki Amman Temple” and “Siva Sudalai Madasamy Temple” situated at Kundal Village, Karaisathu Uvari, Thisayanvilai Taluk, Tirunelveli District, are the ancestral /family temple of the people belonging to Kundal Village as well as Kannakulam Village. A dispute has arisen between the petitioner's party and also the party of the respondents 5 to 8 with respect to the administration of the said temple and conduct of temple festivals. It is also seen that the respondents 5 to 8 had taken over the administration of the temple claiming that the earlier administration, under the head of one Chellaiah, had misappropriated certain funds. However, all those matters have to be resolved only by approaching the appropriate civil Court. As far as the conduct of temple festival and the related ceremonies are concerned, already it is seen that the fourth respondent has given intimation regarding the dispute between A party and B party to the second respondent. 8.In view of the same, the second respondent is directed to convene a Peace Committee Meeting between the party belonging to the petitioner and the respondents 5 to 8 on or before 30.03.2026 and ensure that both the parties peacefully participate in the conduct of aforesaid temple festival and the representatives from both the parties may be selected and a Special Committee may be formed, exclusively for the conduct of temple festival, which is to be 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 conducted in the month of May and facilitating all the people of Kundal Village as well as Kannakullam Village to peacefully participate, worship and organise in the forthcoming festival. It is also made clear that the second respondent will take necessary steps to provide appropriate police protection by directing the fourth respondent on all forthcoming three days of templee festival ensuring Public law and order. 9.With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. 11.03.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes Rmk To 1.The District Collector, Tirunelveli District, Collector Office, Tirunelveli. 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Seranmagadevi, Tirunelveli District. 3.The Tahsildar, Thisayanvilai Taluk, Tirunelveli District. 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 4.The Inspector of Police, Uvari Police Station, Tirunelveli District. 5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD)No.1367 of 2026 L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J. Rmk Writ Petition Crl.(MD)No.1367 of 2026 11.03.2026 8/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis