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Madras High Court
Muthusamy vs The District Collector on 19 February, 2026
Author: S.Srimathy
Bench: S.Srimathy
WP CRL.(MD). No.935 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
Dated : 19/02/2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY
WP CRL.(MD). No.935 of 2026
Muthusamy ... Petitioner
Vs
1. The District Collector,
District Collector Office,
Virudhunagar District.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Revenue Divisional Office,
Sivakasi,
Virudhunagar District.
3. The Thasildar,
Taluk Office,
Rajapalayam Taluk,
Virudhunagar District.
4. The Superintendent of Police,,
O/o. Superintendent of Police,
Virudhunagar District.
5.The Inspector of Police,
Seithur Police Station,
Seithur,
Virudhunagar District.
... Respondents
1/6
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WP CRL.(MD). No.935 of 2026
PRAYER :-
To issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the
respondents 1 to 4 to consider the petitioner's
representations and reopen the Arulmigu Vathalakundu
Mariamman Temple situated at Sundararajapuram
Village, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District and
consequently permit the petitioner and the villagers
to exercise their hereditary and customary
worshipping rights based on the petitioner's
representations dated 25.06.2025 and 09.02.2026
within a stipulated time that may be fixed by this
Court.
For Petitioner : P.Ponraj,
Advocate.
For R4 & R5 : Mr.A.S.Abul Kalaam Azad,
Government Advocate (Crl.Side)
For R1 to R3 :Mr.P.Thambidurai
Government Advocate
ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed for issuance of a
Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to
consider the petitioner's representations and reopen
the Arulmigu Vathalakundu Mariamman Temple situated
at Sundararajapuram Village, Rajapalayam Taluk,
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Virudhunagar District and consequently permit the
petitioner and the villagers to exercise their
hereditary and customary worshipping rights based on
the petitioner's representations dated 25.06.2025 and
09.02.2026 within a stipulated time that may be fixed
by this Court.
2. Heard both sides.
3.Already there are two rival groups. Hence, the
third respondent Tahsildar conducted Peace Committee
Meeting and resolution was passed on 18.06.2025.
Based on the resolution, the temple was locked. The
petitioner being a worshipper filed the present
petition to open the temple and grant permission to
worship alone on Tuesdays and Fridays.
4.The learned Government Advocate(crl. Side)
submitted that the issue is pending before the
Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, when the petitioner
as worshipper seeking to open the temple. Hence, the
Tahsildar is directed to again conduct Peace
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Committee Meeting to the limited extent to allow the
devotees for worship in the temple on all Tuesdays
and Fridays alone, by calling rival parties and also
the petitioner. The said exercise shall be conducted
within a period of four weeks from the date of
receipt of a copy of this order.
5.With this direction, this Writ Petition is
disposed of. No Costs.
19.02.2026
PJL
Note:Issue order copy on 23.02.2026.
TO
1. The District Collector,
District Collector Office,
Virudhunagar District.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Revenue Divisional Office,
Sivakasi,
Virudhunagar District.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 23/02/2026 10:55:28 am )
3. The Thasildar,
Taluk Office,
Rajapalayam Taluk,
Virudhunagar District.
4. The Superintendent of Police,,
O/o. Superintendent of Police,
Virudhunagar District.
5.The Inspector of Police,
Seithur Police Station,
Seithur,
Virudhunagar District.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 23/02/2026 10:55:28 am )
S.SRIMATHY,J
PJL
ORDER
IN
Date : 19/02/2026
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 23/02/2026 10:55:28 am )
