WP(MD)/28900/2026 of Adhimoolam R Vs The Commissioner on 6 October 2026

ORDER

The petitioner is the President of Rajakula Agamudayar Community and has approached this Court for the conduct of the Purattasi festival in the Arulmigu Pattalamman Muthiahswamy Temple in terms of the procedure settled in order dated 10.10.2025 in W.P.(MD) No.26886 of 2025.

2. Mr.R.Parthiban, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice for respondents 1 to 4. Mr.K.Baskar, learned counsel appears on behalf of the trustees of the temple.

3. On the basis of written instructions, learned Special Government Pleader submits that the rival factions could not arrive at a consensus with regard to tying the Mavilai (khtpiy) and erecting the pandal (ge;jy;). Therefore, he submits that the temple through the Fit Person would undertake the said practices, whereas the horse procession may be undertaken both by persons from the East Street and by those belonging to the Ammapatti Street.

4. Opposing this proposal, learned counsel for the Trustees relies on the judgment of the Hon’ble Division Bench of this Court dated 21.04.2026 in W.A.(MD) No.540 of 2026 and related cases. He points out that the Hon’ble Division Bench clarified that the appeal should be decided after providing an opportunity to the temple and the existing trustees and that ‘existing trustees’ refers to the trustees selected on the basis of the original scheme settled on 13.05.1982. He also submits that the practice followed for the Purattasi Festival up to the year 2024 be followed.

5. In order dated 10.10.2025 in W.P.(MD) No.26886 of 2025, an ad hoc arrangement was made in relation to celebrations in the year 2025. The Court recorded that the said order would not give rise to any right in favour of any person. Two aspects were dealt with in the said order. These relate to the tying of the Mavilai (khtpiy) and the horse procession.

6. An appeal is pending before the Commissioner in relation to the modification of the scheme for the management of the temple. The Hon’ble Division Bench has directed that the said appeal be disposed of within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of that order.

7. Considering these aspects, I am inclined to accept the proposal put forth on behalf of the Fit Person. The relevant instructions, in this regard, are set out below: mjd ; gb jpUf;Nfhapypy ; midj;J thry; “

gFjpfSf;F jpUf;Nfhapy ; epu;thfk ; rhu;gpy ; thiokuk; fl;lTk ; ge;jy; mikf;fTk ; khtpio Njhuzk ; fl;lTk; kw;Wk; ikf;nrl; mikj;J nfhs;sTk; ,j;jpUf;NfhapYf;Fs; eilKiw gof;ftof;fj;jpd; gb G+i[ Gz];fhuq;fs; G+khiy myq;fhuq;fs ; nra;J

nfhs;sTk; cj;Njrpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ

my;yJ

mjw;fhd nrytpdq;fis ,e;J mwepiyaj;Jiw rl;ltpjpfspd; gb cgajhuu;fs ; %yKk; nra;J

nfhs;s cj;Njrpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ. ,j;jpUf;Nfhapypy ; eilngWk; Gul;lhrp khj jpUtpohtpy; fPoj;njU gFjp kf;fs; ,j;jpUf;NfhapYf;F Fjpiu vLj;J tUtJ tof;fj;jpy ; ,Ue;J te;Js;sJ vd;gij gzpe;J njuptpj;Jf;nfhs;fpNwd;. NkYk; fle;j Mz;by; eilngw;w Gul;lhrp jpUtpohtpy; mt;thz;Lf;F kl;Lk; (2025) khz;gik nrd;id cau;ePjpkd;w kJiu fpis W.P(MD) No.26886 of 2025 jPu;g;Giuapd ; gb mk;khgl;b njU gFjp kf;fSk; Fjpiu vLj;J tu mDkjp toq;fg;gl;lJ. NkYk; fle;j Mz;L jpUtpohtpy ; fPoj;njU gFjp kf;fSk ; kw;Wk; khz;gik nrd;id cau;ePjpkd;w kJiu fpis cj;jutpd; gb mt;thz;Lf;F kl;Lk; (2025) mk;kh gl;b njU gFjp kf;fSk ; ,j;jpUf;NfhapYf;F Fjpiu vLj;J te;jdu; vd;gij gzpe;J njuptpj;Jf; nfhs;fpNwd;. ,dp tUk; jpUtpohf;fspy ; ,j;jpUf;Nfhapypd ; eyd ; fUjpAk; gf;ju;fspd ; eyd; fUjpAk ; ,U njU gFjp kf;fSf;Fs; vt;tpj rl;l xOq;F gpur;rpid Vw;glhj tz;zk; fle;j Mz;L jpUtpohtpy ; eilngw;wJ Nghy ; ,Ujug;gpdu;fSk; Fjpiufs ; kl;Lk ; vLj;J tu mDkjp toq;f khz;gik ePjpkd;wk; cj;juT gpwg;gpf;f Ntz;Lkha ; gzpe;J gpuhj;jpf;fg;gLfpwJ.”

8. The Purattasi Festival shall be conducted by the temple, through the Fit Person, undertaking the tying of the Mavilai (khtpiy) with persons from both East Street and Ammapatti Street being permitted to undertake the horse procession. It is clarified, however, that this will not confer any rights on the said persons and by further clarifying that the appeal pending before the Commissioner may be decided uninfluenced by any observations in this order.

9. The Inspector of Police, Jeyamangam Police Station, Theni, is directed to provide necessary protection in relation to the conduct of the Purattasi festival.

10. This Writ Petition is disposed of on these terms. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 06-10-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No apd

To

1. The Commissioner Hindu Religious And Charitable Endowments Department 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai Nungambakkam High Road Chennai-600034

2. The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious And Charitable Endowments Department Mullipadi Village, Dindugal

3. The Assistant Commissioner Hindu Religious And Charitable Endowments Department Door No. 6.21, TBN Road, P.c. Patti, Theni

4. The Fit Person Arulmigu Pottalamman Muthiah Temple East Street, Melmangalam, Periyakulam Taluk Theni District Having Office At Arulmigu Kuchanur Soneswarar Temple Kuchanur

5. The Inspector of Police, Jeyamangam Police Station, Theni

SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY, J. apd WP(MD) No. 28900 of 2026 06-10-2026