W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 24.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 A.Renganathan ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District. 2.The Inspector of Police, Vadamadurai Police Station, Dindigul District. 3.Karuppaiah 4.Rajendran 5.Ayyan Ambalam @ Thottakalai 6.Murugan @ Solaimuthu 7.Kaliappan 8.Chinnasamy 9.Perumal ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to award adequate police protection for the poojaris so as to perform their pooja 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 activities to the deity called Arulmigu Vandikaruppana Swamy, in its Thirukovil situated at Thangammapatti, Ayyalur Village, Vedasantur Taluk, Dindigul District pursuant to the resolution passed by the petitioner dated 03.11.2022 which has been approved by the competent authority. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Anand For R1 & 2 : Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar Government Advocate(Criminal) For R3 : Mr.M.Karthikeya Venkatachalapathy For R4 - R9 : M/s.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates ORDER Seeking to direct respondents 1 and 2 to provide adequate police protection for the Poojaris so as to perform pooja activities in Arulmigu Vandikaruppana Swamy temple situated at Thangammapatti, Ayyalur Village, Vedasantur Taluk, Dindigul District pursuant to the resolution passed by the petitioner dated 03.11.2022, this writ petition is filed. 2. Since no adverse order is passed against the private respondents, notice to the private respondents is dispensed with. 3. The petitioner is the Hereditary Trustee of Arulmigu Vandikaruppana Swamy temple situated at Thangammapatti, Ayyalur Village, Vedasantur Taluk, 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 Dindigul District. He had passed a resolution to conduct the temple festival. He had appointed one Vairaperumal and Chinnu as poojaris of the said temple through a resolution dated 13.09.2022. However, the respondents 3 to 9 are preventing the poojaris appointed by the petitioner, namely Vairaperumal and Chinnu from acting as poojaris in the said temple. In the interregnum, O.A.No. 50 of 2022 has been filed by the private respondents for appointing them as poojari in the said temple which was allowed in their favour on 31.10.2023. Aggrieved over the same, the petitioner had filed W.P(MD)No.28084 of 2023 and this Court by order dated 11.09.2024 directed the petitioner to file an appeal against the said order, pursuant to which, the petitioner had filed A.P.No. 17 of 2025 and the same was allowed on 13.10.2025, in which it is held that the private respondents cannot seek any entitlement of pooja rights by virtue of any customary right in the line of succession under Section 63(e) of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951. W.P(MD)No.35058 of 2025 has been preferred as against the said order and the same is pending. However, no interim order is granted in favour of them. Thereafter, L.P.A(MD)No.1 of 2024 was filed and subsequently, the same was also withdrawn. As on date, no proceeding is pending for the purpose of conducting pooja. The petitioner by resolution dated 13.09.2022 has appointed one Vairaperumal and Chinnu as poojaris. However, they are prevented by the private respondents from 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 conducting poojas. Hence, this petition is filed seeking to direct the respondents 1 and 2 to provide adequate police protection for conduct of poojas by the said poojaris. 4. The learned Government Advocate(Criminal) on perusal of the letter given by the executive officer submitted that the letter given by the executive officer is so far not received by the 2nd respondent police. 5. Heard the learned counsel on either side and carefully perused the materials available on record. 6. The 2nd respondent is directed to summon the petitioner as well as the respondents 3 to 9 under Section 64 BNSS, 2023 and the petitioner is directed to produce all the orders which have been obtained by him in his favour from the various authorities. On perusal of the same, if the petitioner's claim is found to be genuine, the 2nd respondent police is directed to afford necessary police protection on payment of necessary fees in terms of G.O(Ms)No.139, Home (Pol-VIII) Department, dated 04.03.2019. 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 7. With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. 24.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No gbg TO:- 1. The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District. 2.The Inspector of Police, Vadamadurai Police Station, Dindigul District. 3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J. gbg Order made in W.P.Crl.(MD)No.116 of 2026 Dated 24.03.2026 (2/2) 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis