WP CRL.(MD)/5164/2026 of P.Mohan Vs The Superintendent of Police on 11 September 2026

O R D E R

Heard both sides.

2. Mr. D. Rajaboopathy, learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), takes notice for the 1st and 2nd respondents.

3. The petitioner has come up with the writ petition in the nature of Writ of Mandamus seeking permission and police protection to perform the “Pooserthal” on 21.09.2026, to offer the prayer and get blessings from the God “Arulmigu Sree Puthanayagi Amman Thirukovil” situated Ponnampatti, Thuvarankurichi Village Marungapuri Taluk, Trichy District.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the subject Puthanayagi Amman Kovil is a public temple under the control of HR&CE Department. The people belonging to different communities in the said village have the right to worship in the said temple, which is not in dispute. The petitioner belongs to Maravar community. There are other communities residing in all the 25 villages. It is usual in practice, that on the date of Pooserthal festival the people belongs to each community will go to the temple, at the allotted time either by the HR&CE or by the local police, offer their “Pooserthal” pooja's and then get the blessing from the deity and thereafter return to their respective house.

5. This year, the pooserthal festival falls on 21.09.2026. Therefore, the petitioner has sought permission and necessary police protection from the police authorities. The learned counsel further submitted that among the 25 villages, the people belonging to the petitioner's community are residing in five villages and there are about 50 families are ready to participate in the festival on 21.09.2026 and perform the Pooserthal pooja. The police are allotting a time slot of maximum one hour to each community and offer their prayers and worship the deity. Therefore, the police is a right person to fix the time schedule for petitioner's community and also to other communities. Hence, necessary direction may be given to the police for giving permission and protection to participate and celebrate the subject festival.

6. The learned Government advocate (Criminal Side) submitted that, the petitioner's representation has been received and pending. As per the facts collected, people belonging to other communities are residing in and around the village. If everybody seeks the same time, it would not be possible to accommodate all of them simultaneously. Therefore, direction may be given to the police to fix a time frame for all the communities in a separate time slot and the police will give a necessary protection not only for this petitioner and also to others who are ready to participate in the festival and offer their prayers.

7. Recording the submission, the second respondent is directed to consider the petitioner's representation and allot a time slot of one hour and provide necessary police protection to the petitioner for the said pooserthal festival on 21.09.2026 at the subject temple without any cost. Since the subject temple is public temple and the temple belongs to HR&CE Department, the police authorities shall make necessary arrangement for the peaceful participation of all the communities by allotting separate time slot to them.

8. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of.

11.09.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes/No NCC :Yes/No

psm To

1. The Superintendent of Police, Trichy, Trichy District.

2. The Inspector of Police, (Circle) Trichy District Police Station, Trichy District.

3. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

DR. P. MURUGAN, J.

psm

WP. CRL.(MD) No.5164 of 2026 11.09.2026