WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 10 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 27-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C. SARAVANAN WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.15919, 15921 and 15924 of 2026 M.Mandhaiyan Ambalam S/o. R. Mandhai Veeran, Kallampatti, Melur Taluk, Madurai District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer Arulmighu Kallazhagar Thirukovil Devasthanam, Alagarkovil, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Madurai District - 625 306. 2. K.Madhavan Ambalam S/o. Karukkan Ambalam, Melakallanthiri, Madurai East Taluk, Madurai District. 3. Vaguththy Ambalam S/o. Machakalai, Melakallanthiri, Madurai East Taluk, Madurai District. 4. Deepan Chakravarthi S/o. Malaiyandi, Muduvarpatti, Vadipatti Taluk, Madudrai District. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 10 5. Sundararajan Ambalam S/o. Periyazhagan Ambalam, Kallampatti, Melur Taluk, Madurai District. 6. A.Manthaiyan Ambalam S/o. Alagu, Kallampatti, Melur Taluk, Madurai District. 7. S.Vijayaraja Ambalam S/o. Sethuraman, Kallampatti, Melur Taluk, Madurai District. 8. S.S.Abbas S/o. Sikkandar, Kallampatti, Melur Taluk, Madurai District. 9. Muthuramalingam S/o. VSM. Mathaiyan Ambalam, No.204/3, Keelakallanthiri, Madurai East Taluk, Madurai District. ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records of the impugned order in Na.Ka. No.1742/2025/E1 issued by the 1st respondent dated 05.08.2025 and quash the same as illegal and consequently directing the 1st respondent to receive the service charges for alighting Lord Kallalagar in the Kallampatti Common Mandapam (Mandagapadi) situated at Alagarkovil during the Aadi Festival on 28.07.2026 and in all future Aadi https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 10 Festivals and alight the Lord Kallalagar in the Mandagapadi and pass such further or other orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice. For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.Purusothaman for Mr.K.N.Vijayasenthil Kumar For Respondent(s): Mr.V.Chandrasekar Standing Counsel for R1 Mr.V.Muthukamatchi for R2 and R5 to R8 ORDER The petitioner is before this Court after his earlier attempt in W.P.(MD) No.21064 of 2026 proved futile. In the said writ petition, the petitioner had sought a direction to the first respondent herein to receive the service charges for alighting Lord Kallalagar at the Kallampatti Common Mandapam (Mandagapadi), situated at Alagarkovil, during the Aadi Festival on 28.07.2026 and during all future Aadi Festivals, and to ensure that Lord Kallalagar is brought to the said Mandagapadi. 2. The said writ petition was, however, dismissed at the stage of admission on 24.07.2026, while granting liberty to the petitioner to challenge the impugned order passed by the Deputy Commissioner, H.R. and C.E. Department. Pursuant thereto, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition seeking to quash the impugned proceedings of the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.1742/2025/E1, dated 05.08.2025, and consequently, to direct the first https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 10 respondent to receive the service charges for alighting Lord Kallalagar at the Kallampatti Common Mandapam (Mandagapadi), situated at Alagarkovil, during the Aadi Festival on 28.07.2026 and during all future Aadi Festivals. 3. The petitioner claims to represent one of the eight Ambalakarars of Kallampatti Village, Melur Taluk, Madurai District. It is the case of the petitioner that a dispute exists between two of the Ambalakarars, namely, Kuruni and Potta Kadachi, in relation to Kaluvamparai Karuppanasamy Temple. According to the petitioner, the dispute had earlier been resolved by way of a compromise entered into between the Ambalakarars in I.A.No.761 of 1968, wherein the following order came to be passed: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 10 4. Insofar as the impugned order is concerned, the petitioner's request for permitting the Mandagapadi at the Kallampatti Common Mandapam (Mandagapadi), situated at Alagarkovil, during the previous Aadi Festival was rejected by the first respondent/Deputy Commissioner by proceedings dated 05.08.2025. The said request was rejected with the following observations: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 10 5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner may be permitted to contribute towards the Mandagapadi to be conducted at the Kallampatti Common Mandapam (Mandagapadi), situated at Alagarkovil, during the Aadi Festival scheduled to be held on 28.07.2026 (tomorrow), which https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page7 of 10 is specifically earmarked for the eight Ambalakarars of the said Village. It was further submitted that the service charges/taxes may be collected from the petitioner and the other Ambalakarars, except the third and fourth Ambalakarars. 6. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that, insofar as any ceremonial privilege is concerned, the same may, for the present, be also conferred upon the third and fourth Ambalakarars, namely, Kuruni and Potta Kadachi. 7. Per contra, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the first respondent submitted that there has been a long-standing dispute among some of the Ambalakarars of the said Village and, on account of the said dispute, the petitioner's request was not acceded to during the previous year. It was, therefore, contended that the same request cannot be acceded to this year as well. It was further submitted that the third and fourth Ambalakarars have also instituted a suit in O.S. No.246 of 2025 before the District Munsif Court, Melur, after the impugned proceedings came to be passed and, therefore, on that ground also, the petitioner's request cannot be entertained. It was also submitted that permitting the petitioner to conduct the Mandagapadi is likely to give rise to a law and order situation. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page8 of 10 8. As far as the Mandagapadi in the temple is concerned, it is an annual religious event that has been conducted from time immemorial. The conduct of the Mandagapadi cannot be stalled merely because of the inter se disputes among the Ambalakarars. Therefore, this Court sees no impediment in directing the H.R. and C.E. Department to receive the Mandagapadi service charges from the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth Ambalakarars individually. If the third and fourth Ambalakarars are also willing to contribute towards the service charges, the H.R. and C.E. Department shall likewise receive the same. 9. However, it is made clear that no special or exclusive privilege shall be conferred upon any of the Ambalakarars in connection with the ensuing Aadi Festival scheduled to be held on 28.07.2026. The festival and the Mandagapadi shall be conducted peacefully under the supervision of the temple authorities, without conferring any preferential rights upon any particular group of Ambalakarars. 10. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 27-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No Note:- Issue order copy on 27.07.2026. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page9 of 10 To The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer Arulmighu Kallazhagar Thirukovil Devasthanam, Alagarkovil, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Madurai District - 625 306. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 __________ Page10 of 10 C.SARAVANAN, J. smn2 WP(MD) No. 21437 of 2026 27-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis