WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 9 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 14-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C. SARAVANAN WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 1. P.Soundarrajan S/o. Periyam Pillai, 4/24, Mavalikkottai, Uruvatti Post, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 2. M.Ranjithakumar, S/o. Muniandi, 464, Thelliyanvayal, Uruvatti Post, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Commissioner, O/o. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai 2. The Joint Commissioner, O/o. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Sivagangai District. 3. The District Collector, The Collectorate Building, Sivagangai District. 4. The Sub Collector, O/o. The Sub Collector, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 9 5. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 6. The Tahsildar, O/o. The Tahsildar, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 7. The Tahsildar, O/o. The Tahsildar, Kaalaiyarkovil Taluk, Sivagangai District. 8. The Manager, Sivagangai Devasthaanam, Sivagangai District 9. The Devasthanam Superintendent, Kaleeswarar Temple Campus, Sivagangai Devasthaanam, Kaalaiyarkovil Circle, Sivagangai District. 10.The Superintendent of Police, O/o. The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District. 11.The Inspector of Police, O/o. The Inspector of Police, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 12.The Inspector of Police, O/o. The Inspector of Police, Kaalaiyarkovil Taluk, Sivagangai District. 13.K.Sethu, S/o. Kulanthaiswamy, Pudhukudiyuruppu, https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 9 Uruvatti Post, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 14.M.Mappillaisamy, S/o. Malairaja, Pudhukudiyuruppu, Uruvatti Post, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 15.M.Mani, S/o. Muthu, Alagappa Nagar, Kumaravel Post, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 16.V.Thamilarasan, S/o. Veerapandi, Pudhukudiyuruppu, Uruvatti Post, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 17.P.Ramu, S/o. Pandi, Kongathidal, Uruvatti Post, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent Nos.1 and 2 to constitute a temple festival committee inclusive of the representatives of the Petitioners community members for the Arulmigu Periya Nayagi Amman Thirukovil’s First Year Thiruvizhakku Poojai Festival on 14.08.2026 within the time framed fixed by this Hon’ble Court 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. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 9 For Petitioner(s): Mr.K.Surya for M/S.Roy Roy Associates For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Venkatesh Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R7 Mr.S.Madhavan for R8 and R9 Mr.P.Vetrivel Government Advocate (Criminal side) for R10 to R12 ORDER The petitioners have approached this Court at the eleventh hour, just before the Temple festival, namely, the first-year Thiruvizhakku Poojai at Arulmigu Periya Nayagi Amman Thirukovil, Kalaiyarkovil Taluk, Sivagangai District. 2. It appears that the petitioners have been complaining against the Hereditary Trustees of the said Temple, alleging that they have been practising discrimination by excluding the members of the petitioners’ community. It is further stated that a meeting was held in the presence of the sixth respondent/Tahsildar, Devakottai, on 11.08.2026 in connection with the Temple festival, which is scheduled to commence at 05.00 p.m. today. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 9 3. It is the complaint of the petitioners that several cultural events are conducted in connection with the Temple festivals during the month of Panguni and that the members of the petitioners’ community are being excluded from such events. It is further alleged that donations are not being collected from the members of the petitioners’ community and that, thereby, discrimination is being practised against them. 4. The learned counsel for the respondents 8 and 9 submits that the event that is to take place today, namely, the first-year Thiruvizhakku Poojai at Arulmigu Periya Nayagi Amman Thirukovil, Kalaiyarkovil Taluk, Sivagangai District, is being conducted for the first time and that the entire expenses are being borne by the eighth respondent/Devasthanam. It is further submitted that there will be no discrimination among the members of different communities. Therefore, it is submitted that the prayer of the petitioners does not warrant any interference by this Court at this eleventh hour. 5. The statement of the learned counsel for the respondents 8 and 9 that, in connection with the first-year Thiruvizhakku Poojai being held today at 05.00 p.m., there will be no discrimination and that members of all communities will be permitted to participate without any discrimination is recorded. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 9 6. The respondents 10 to 12 are directed to ensure that the Temple festival is conducted in an orderly manner and that there is no untoward incident during the festival/event. To that effect, they may provide adequate police protection. 7. At this stage, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondents 10 to 12 submits that the entire festival is being monitored by the respondents 10 and 11 and that about 100 police personnel have been deployed to ensure that there is no untoward incident. 8. The said submission of the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondents 10 to 12 is recorded. 9. As far as the constitution of the Temple Committee for the future is concerned, the same can be the subject matter of the O.A. pending on the file of the Joint Commissioner, Sivagangai in O.A. No.66 of 2024, filed under Section 63(e) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, at the instance of the petitioners and the members of the petitioners’ family. 10. Therefore, this writ petition is disposed of with a further direction to the second respondent to dispose of O.A.No.66 of 2024 as expeditiously as possible, preferably before the next Panguni festival, after hearing all the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page7 of 9 persons who are likely to be affected by the decision to be taken therein. There shall be no order as to costs. 14-08-2026 Index: Yes/No (2/2) Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No smn2 To 1. The Commissioner, O/o. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai 2. The Joint Commissioner, O/o. The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Sivagangai District. 3. The District Collector, The Collectorate Building, Sivagangai District. 4. The Sub Collector, O/o. The Sub Collector, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 5. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 6. The Tahsildar, O/o. The Tahsildar, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page8 of 9 7. The Tahsildar, O/o. The Tahsildar, Kaalaiyarkovil Taluk, Sivagangai District. 8. The Manager, Sivagangai Devasthaanam, Sivagangai District 9. The Devasthanam Superintendent, Kaleeswarar Temple Campus, Sivagangai Devasthaanam, Kaalaiyarkovil Circle, Sivagangai District. 10.The Superintendent of Police, O/o. The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District. 11.The Inspector of Police, O/o. The Inspector of Police, Devakottai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 12.The Inspector of Police, O/o. The Inspector of Police, Kaalaiyarkovil Taluk, Sivagangai District. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 __________ Page9 of 9 C.SARAVANAN, J. smn2 WP(MD) No. 23453 of 2026 14-08-2026 (2/2) https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis