W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 10/07/2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE L. VICTORIA GOWRI W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 and W.M.P Crl(MD)No.949 of 2026 Muruganantham ... Petitioner Vs 1.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul. 2.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District, Dindigul. 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Dindigul, Dindigul District. 4.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Athoor, Dindigul District. 1/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 5.The Inspector of Police, Chinnalapatti Police Station, Dindigul District. 6.Rajavenkatesh ... Respondents PRAYER :- Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order passed by the third respondent in Na.Ka.No.4896/2026/A1, dated.09.07.2026 and quash the same as illegal and consequently to direct the respondent to handover key of the temple Arulmighu Shree Sri Muthalamman Shree Muniyappan Temple situated Ariyanallur Village, Athoor Taluk, Dindigul District to the petitioner further give Police protection for temple festival schedules to be held on 14.07.2026 to 16.07.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.P.Manikandan For Respondents : Ms.M.R.Priyanka Jothi Government Advocate (Civil Side) for R.1, R.3 & R.4 Mr.C.Susikumar Government Advocate (Crl Side) for R.2 & R.5 2/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 ORDER This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order passed by the third respondent in Na.Ka.No.4896/2026/A1, dated.09.07.2026 and quash the same as illegal and consequently to direct the respondent to handover key of the temple Arulmighu Shree Sri Muthalamman Shree Muniyappan Temple situated Ariyanallur Village, Athoor Taluk, Dindigul District to the petitioner further give Police protection for temple festival schedules to be held on 14.07.2026 to 16.07.2026. 2.The learned counsel for the petitioner states that this is the third Writ Petition seeking permission for conducting temple festivel in Arulmighu Shree Sri Muthalamman Shree Muniyappan Temple situated Ariyanallur Village, Athoor Taluk, Dindigul District. Earlier one Palraj filed W.P Crl(MD)Nos.3290 of 2026 before this Court for the very same relief. The said writ petition was dismissed vide order dated 22.06.2026, wherein the rival factions were directed to participate in the Peace Committee meeting scheduled to be convened by the third respondent. 3/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 3.Pursuant thereto, a Peace Committee meeting was conducted on 27.06.2026, and a resolution was arrived at between the rival factions including the petitioner herein. It was clearly resolved that the temple festival should be conducted by the 'A' faction in one year and by the 'B' faction in the succeeding year. It was further resolved that members of both factions would be entitled to participate in the temple festival irrespective of which faction was organizing it. It was also agreed that neither faction should interfere with the constitution of the temple festival committee formed by the other faction for conducting the festival. It was further resolved that, in the event of any law and order problem, the administration of the temple should be taken over and entrusted to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. 4.Subsequently, one Rajavenkateswaran, belonging to the 'B' faction, filed W.P.Crl(MD)No.3672 of 2026 seeking to forbear the official respondents from conducting the temple festival in the said temple. By order dated 03.07.2026, this Court directed the respective 4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 parties to adhere to and abide by the resolution arrived at in the Peace Committee meeting convened by the revenue authorities on 27.06.2026. However, Condition No.11, relating to the grant of first honours to the community leaders, was quashed. 5.Thereafter, differences again arose between the rival factions. Consequently, another Peace Committee meeting was convened on 09.07.2026. Though the petitioner refused to participate, the meeting was held in the presence of the other faction. It was resolved that the temple festival should be conducted in accordance with the orders passed by this Court in the earlier writ petitions and that, in the event of any law and order issue, the keys of the temple should be handed over to the appropriate authorities. 6.Pursuant to which another writ petition was filed by one Rajavenkateswaran from 'B' faction in W.P Crl(MD)No.3672 of 2026 seeking to forbear the official respondents to conduct temple festival in the said temple and this Court vide order dated 03.07.2026 directed the respective parties to adhere to and abide by the resolution arrived at in 5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 the Peace Committee meeting convened by the revenue authorities on 27.06.2020. However, quashing the Condition No.11, permitting first honors to the community leaders. Pursuant thereto, the indifference had crept in between both the factions convened yet another Peace Committee meeting on 09.07.2026 in which the petitioner refused to participate. However, in the presence of the other faction, it was resolved that the temple festival should be facilitated to be conducted in terms of the orders passed by this Court in various writ petitions and in case of any indifference and law and order problem, the temple key should be handed over to the appropriate authorities. And now at the verge of commencement of the temple festival, the learned counsel for the petitioner claimed that the temple was closed by the respondent Police and the pandakal was snatched by the said Police. 7.When the temple festival was about to commence, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the temple had been locked by the respondent Police and that the Panthal Kaal (ge;jy; fhy;) had also been removed by them. 6/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 8.In view of the said submission, this Court directed the learned Government Advocate to verify the said allegation and report back. Accordingly, the matter was passed over. When the matter was taken up again, the learned Government Advocate, on instructions, submitted that the temple had not been locked by the Police but by the Tahsildar. 9.The learned Government Advocate appearing for the Tahsildar submitted that this Court, in its earlier orders, had directed that, in the event of any law and order problem, the Revenue Authorities should take an appropriate decision, take over the administration of the temple, and hand it over to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. He further submitted that, despite the conduct of two Peace Committee meetings, the rival factions continued to remain at loggerheads and failed to abide by the orders passed by this Court or to conduct the temple festival peacefully. In such circumstances, having been left with no other option, the Tahsildar concerned locked the temple, and the keys are proposed to be handed over to the Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, for further action. 7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 10.Recording the said submission and granting liberty to the respective parties to approach the Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 10.07.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No MGA To 1.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul. 2.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District, Dindigul. 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Dindigul, Dindigul District. 4.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Athoor, Dindigul District. 5.The Inspector of Police, Chinnalapatti Police Station, Dindigul District. 8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 6.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 9/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 L. VICTORIA GOWRI,J MGA ORDER IN W.P.Crl(MD). No.3867 of 2026 Date : 10/07/2026 10/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis