[Cites 1, Cited by 0]
Madras High Court
Alagarsamy vs The District Collector on 24 March, 2026
W.P.Crl.(MD)No.1545 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 24.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI
W.P.Crl.(MD)No.1545 of 2026
& W.M.P.Crl.(MD)No.373 & 374 of 2026
1.Alagarsamy
2.Narayanan
3.Muthukumar ... Petitioners
Vs.
1. The District Collector,
Sivagangai District,
Sivagangai.
2. The Superintendent of Police,
Sivagangai District,
Sivagangai.
3. The Tahsildar,
Kalaiyarkovil Taluk,
Sivagangai District.
4. The Inspector of Police,
Sivagangai Taluk Police Station,
Sivagangai District.
5. Sivagangai Samasthanam - Devasthanam,
Rep. by its Hereditary Trastee,
Palace, Sivagangai.
6. Sonai ... Respondents
1/6
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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.1545 of 2026
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for
issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 5 to ensure that
the petitioners and their family members are permitted to perform the
traditional temple events such as taking 'Madukalasam', 'Sengai Vettu' and other
customary rituals in the festival of Arulmigu Kannudaiya Nayagi Amman
Temple, Nattarasankottai, Sivagangai District as per the long-standing practice
and in accordance with the peace meeting proceedings of the 4th respondent
dated 24.03.2025, during the temple festival scheduled to be held on
24.03.2026, and further direct the respondents 1 to 4 to provide adequate police
protection to the petitioners and their family members during the temple
festival so as to enable them to perform the said traditional rituals peacefully
and without any obstruction from the 6th respondent and his men, by
considering the representation of the petitioners dated 09.03.2026.
For Petitioners : Mr.A.Mohan
For Respondents : Mr.C.Satheesh (R1 & R3)
Government Advocate (Civil)
Mr.S.Ravi (R2 & R4)
Additional Public Prosecutor
Mr.Karthikeyan Venkatachalapathy (R5)
for Mr.S.Madhavan
Mr.R.Balamuruganantham (R6)
ORDER
WMP (MD) No.373 of 2026 filed seeking to file a single Writ Petition is
ordered.
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2. This petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the respondents
1 to 5 to ensure that the petitioners and their family members are permitted to
perform the traditional temple events such as taking 'Madukalasam', 'Sengai
Vettu' and other customary rituals in the festival of Arulmigu Kannudaiya
Nayagi Amman Temple, Nattarasankottai, Sivagangai District as per the long-
standing practice and in accordance with the peace meeting proceedings of the
4th respondent dated 24.03.2025, during the temple festival scheduled to be held
on 24.03.2026, and further direct the respondents 1 to 4 to provide adequate
police protection to the petitioners and their family members during the temple
festival so as to enable them to perform the said traditional rituals peacefully
and without any obstruction from the 6th respondent and his men, by
considering the representation of the petitioners dated 09.03.2026.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the
petitioners are prevented by the 6th respondent and his parties from participating
in the Madukalasam customary ritual of the aforesaid temple festival. That
apart, they also insisted that by the strength of a Cheppu Pattayam in favour of
the ancestors of the petitioners' family, the petitioners are exclusively entitled to
the customary ritual of Sengai Vettu, which is duly prevented by the villagers
and sought the indulgence of this Court.
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4. When the matter came before this Court on 23.03.2026, this Court
directed the 4th respondent police to produce the 6th respondent parties before
this Court today, ie., on 24.03.2026. Pursuant to the said direction, the parties
namely, Mr.M.Subbaiah, S/o.Meiyan, Mr.Kannappan, S/o.Muthan and
Mr.A.Pandi, S/o.Alaghu are present before this Court today.
5. A dialogue was initiated by this Court between the petitioners and the
aforesaid persons, in which both parties have harmoniously agreed that the
decision taken by the revenue authorities in the previous year, permitting the
temple authorities, i.e., the 5th respondent herein, to conduct ‘Sengai Vettu’,
shall be followed until the disposal of the civil suit proposed to be filed by the
petitioners to substantiate their claim under the said Cheppu Pattayam.
However, both parties have further agreed that the ‘Madukalasam’ ritual during
the said festival shall be conducted collectively by all the villagers.
6. In view of the above, the 5th respondent shall conduct ‘Sengai Vettu’,
until the disposal of the civil suit proposed to be filed by the petitioners to
substantiate their claim under the said Cheppu Pattayam and the Madukalasam’
ritual during the said festival shall be conducted collectively by all the
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villagers. It is made clear that any person belonging to Nattarasankottai
Village, Sivagangai District, who is willing to take part in the ‘Madukalasam’,
shall be permitted to participate in the same. This arrangement will continue
till the proposed suit attains finality. It is also made clear that none of the
villagers shall be excluded from participation in the conduct of the temple
festival at any point of time in the near future.
7. With the above direction, this writ petition stands disposed of.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
24.03.2026
NCC : Yes / No
Index : Yes / No
sm
Note: Issue order copy on 24.03.2026.
TO:-
1. The District Collector,
Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
2. The Superintendent of Police,
Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
3. The Tahsildar,
Kalaiyarkovil Taluk,
Sivagangai District.
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L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.
Sm
4. The Inspector of Police,
Sivagangai Taluk Police Station,
Sivagangai District.
5. The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
Order made in
Dated
24.03.2026
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