W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.08.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD) No.17022 of 2026 Palpandi ... Petitioner Vs 1. The State Rep. by its the Tahsildar, Sankarankovil Taluk Office, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District. 2. The Inspector of Police, Karivalamvanthanallur Police Station, Karivalamvanthanallur, Tenkasi District. 3. Kaliyappan 4. Madasamy ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorari calling for the records pertaining to the impugned 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 order in Na.Ka.No.A1/2165/2025 issued by the first respondent vide his proceedings dated 22.07.2026 and quash the same as illegal. For petitioner : Mr. V.Selvakumar For R1 : Mr.S.Venkatesh Additional Government Pleader For R2 : Mr.P.Vetrivel Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For R3 : Mr.K.Jeyamohan ***** ORDER Mr.S.Venkatesh, learned Additional Government Pleader, takes notice for the first respondent. Mr.P.Vetrivel, learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side), takes notice for the second respondent. Mr.K.Jeyamohan, learned counsel takes notice for the third respondent. 2. This Writ Petition is taken up for final hearing at the time of admission with the consent of the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Additional Government Pleader for the first respondent, learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the second respondent and learned counsel for the third respondent. 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 3. The petitioner has challenged the outcome of the Peace Committee meeting convened by the first respondent, the Tahsildar, in respect of the Temple Festival at Kaliyamman Temple, Venkatachalapuram, Panaiyur Post, Sankarankovil Taluk, Tenkasi. 4. The petitioner claims that he represents the elders, who are neutral members of the community and that the first respondent had convened a meeting without due notice to the petitioner and a few other families and had brokered a peace between two rival factions, ‘A’ and ‘B’, whereby the ‘B’ faction, consisting of about 56 families, have been permitted to conduct the Temple Festival between 24.07.2026 and 25.07.2026 and the rival ‘A’ faction, consisting of 11 families, between 28.08.2026 and 29.08.2026. 5. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that there is no legal sanctity for the Peace Committee meeting held by the first respondent and, therefore, the parties cannot be allowed to hold the Temple Festival, particularly when a group of individuals who are neutral have been isolated. 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 6. It is further submitted that the Temple Festival to be held by the ‘A’ party on 28.08.2026 and 29.08.2026 may witness violence and a law and order problem and, therefore, the Temple Festival should not be allowed to be held on those dates, although, on 24.07.2026 and 25.07.2026, the Temple Festival was held by the ‘B’ party in terms of the Peace Committee meeting. 7. The learned counsel for the petitioner has placed a reliance on the order of this Court rendered in W.P.(MD) No. 27056 of 2025 filed by the very same petitioner, dated 26.09.2025 in respect of the Temple Festival that was held last year. 8. The learned counsel for the third respondent, on the other hand, would submit that the dispute during the preceding Temple Festival was with regard to the possession of the key and that, in this background, the Tahsildar/first respondent herein had convened a meeting. Taking note of the same, the Court had held that there was no scope for any interference with the day-to-day management of the Temple by way of a Peace Committee meeting by the first 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 respondent herein. 9. It is submitted that the petitioner has unnecessarily been instigated to jeopardise the Peace Committee meeting, pursuant to which the Temple Festival is to be held by the ‘A’ party on 28.08.2026 and 29.08.2026. It is further submitted that the prayer of the petitioner that the Temple Festival is to be held commonly during the succeeding year may be directed to be considered, if at all. However, the Temple Festival, which has commenced already, should not be deprived. 10. Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the third respondent, I am of the view that the right to worship is enshrined in the Constitution of India and, therefore, the same cannot be curtailed. 11. Here, a Peace Committee meeting has been held between the dominant members of the community representing the ‘B’ party and the minority members 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 representing the ‘A’ party. It appears that the dominant group consists of approximately 56 families, whereas the minority group consists of approximately 11 families, and there are a few neutral families. It is not clear whether the petitioner is representing the interests of the neutral parties or has been instigated by the ‘B’ party. 12. Be that as it may, since the Temple Festival has already commenced and the ‘B’ party has already been allowed to conduct the festival, I see no impediment in allowing the ‘A’ party to have the Temple Festival to be conducted on 28.08.2026 and 29.08.2026. 13. It is for the petitioner to join the ‘A’ party in the Temple Festival on 28.08.2026 and 29.08.2026. It is made clear that, for the ensuing years, unless there is a scheme or a decree of the appropriate forum or the Court, no further Peace Committee meeting shall be held by the Tahsildar, as they are otherwise not binding. 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 14. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of by allowing the petitioner to participate in the Temple Festival to be held on 28.08.2026 and 29.08.2026. It is also open for the others who wish to participate in the Temple Festival. 15.It is made clear that the second respondent is directed to provide adequate police protection on 28.08.2026 and 29.08.2026 to ensure that there is no untoward incident or violation of law and order. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. Index : Yes / No 11.08.2026 Internet : Yes / No apd To 1. The Tahsildar, Sankarankovil Taluk Office, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District. 2. The Inspector of Police, Karivalamvanthanallur Police Station, Karivalamvanthanallur, Tenkasi District. 7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 C.SARAVANAN, J. apd W.P.(MD) No. 22847 of 2026 11.08.2026 8/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis