W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 14.08.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE P.MURUGAN W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 Solaimuthu ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai. 2. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep by The Superintendent of Police, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai. 3. The Inspector of Police, Avudaiyarkovil Police Station, Pudukkottai District. ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ, order or direction in the nature of writ, to direct the respondents 2 to 3 to grant permission and police protection to conduct the Rekla Race on 16.08.2026 i.e., Sunday 6 AM to 9 AM either at Punnaiyavayal to Okkur Village Road or Punniyavayal to Palanthamarai Village road in connection with the ''Arulmigu Sri Selva Vinayagar, Sri Manjanathi Ayynar Santhana Kappu Festival'' Punniyavayal Village, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukottai District, on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 31.07.2026. 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 For Petitioner : Mr.R.Shankar Ganesh For Respondents : M/s.V.Moushica Government Advocate (Crl.side) For R2 & 3 : Mr.A.Sivasubramanian Additional Government Pleader For R1 O R D E R This writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to Respondents 2 and 3 to grant permission and provide police protection for conducting the Rekla Race on 16.08.2026 (Sunday), from about 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m., either on the Punniyavayal–Okkur Village Road or on the Punniyavayal–Palanthamarai Village Road, in connection with the “Arulmigu Sri Selva Vinayagar, Sri Manjanathi Ayynar Santhana Kappu Festival” at Punniyavayal Village, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukottai District, based on the petitioner’s representation dated 31.07.2026. 2. Heard both sides. 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 3. The case of the petitioner is that he submitted a representation dated 31.07.2026, seeking permission to conduct a Rekla Race on 16.08.2026, from 06.00 a.m. to 09.00 a.m., either on the Punniyavayal– Okkur Village Road or on the Punniyavayal–Palanthamarai Village Road, in connection with the “Arulmigu Sri Selva Vinayagar, Sri Manjanathi Ayynar Santhana Kappu Festival” at Punniyavayal Village, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukottai District. However, the petitioner’s representation has not yet been considered. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed. 4. The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that, as per the order passed by the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in Shriram v. District Collector, Madurai District and others, in W.P.(MD) No.21022 of 2024, dated 03.09.2024, had permitted to conduct of the Rekla Race subject to certain conditions. Condition No.ix of the said order stipulates that the organisers shall fix the route in consultation with the Police Department, avoiding schools and hospitals. 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 4.1. In the present case, the respondent police have not passed any order with regard to the selection of either of the two routes suggested by the petitioner. Insofar as obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from other departments is concerned, it is not possible for the petitioner to obtain such NOCs, in view of the directions issued by the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court. Hence, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present writ petition. 5. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), appearing for Respondent Nos.2 and 3, would submit that, since the petitioner has not complied with the conditions stipulated as per the order passed by the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.21022 of 2024, dated 03.09.2024, the respondent police may not be in a position to consider the petitioner's representation and pass appropriate orders. 6. In turn, the learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that a direction may be issued to the respondent police to consider the petitioner's representation seeking permission to conduct the Rekla 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 Race and to fix the route, and thereafter the petitioner can obtain the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the other departments. He further submits that, due to the short interval of time, it is not possible for the petitioner to obtain the NOCs from the other departments for conducting the Rekla Race scheduled to be held on 16.08.2026. However, the petitioner is ready and willing to postpone the said event and, after obtaining the NOCs from the other departments, to refix the date for conducting the Rekla Race. 7. In such circumstances, this Court is inclined to dispose of the said Writ petition with the following directions: a) The third respondent is directed to consider the petitioner's representation dated 31.07.2026 and pass appropriate orders, with regard to the two routes suggested by the petitioner. The said exercise shall be completed by today itself. 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 (b) After obtaining orders from the respondent police, the petitioner is directed to approach the other concerned departments and obtain the necessary No Objection Certificates. Upon complying with all the conditions stipulated by the Division Bench of this Court, the petitioner may conduct the Rekla Race on 16.08.2026 or on such other date as may be refixed by the petitioner. 8. With the said observations, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. 14.08.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No gvn Note : Issue order copy on 14.08.2026 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 To:- 1. The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai. 2. The Superintendent of Police, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai. 3. The Inspector of Police, Avudaiyarkovil Police Station, Pudukkottai District. 7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 Dr. P. MURUGAN, J. gvn Order made in W.P.Crl.(MD)No.4664 of 2026 Dated 14.08.2026 8/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis