WP CRL.(MD)/4795/2026 of Shanmugam Vs The District Collector on 9 September 2026

1. The District Collector, Sivagangai District. Sivagangai.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Sivagangai Division, Sivagangai District.

3. The Tahsildar, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District.

4. The Inspector of Police, Madagupatti Police Station, Sivagangai District.

5. P.Anbalagan

6. Mr.Thyagarajan ...Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing Respondent No.1 to 4 to enforce the terms of the Peace Committee proceedings dated 05.12.2018 or conduct fresh peace committee meeting under the head of the 2nd Respondent and to protect the traditional administrative and customary rights of Isai Vellalar Community People of Paganeri Village in Sri MahaMari Amman Temple based on considering the petitioner's representation dated 20.05.2026 and 19.08.2026 and consequently restrain the people of Respondent No.5 and 6 from conducting any temple event by excluding the petitioner's community, and to pass such further or other orders of this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Muthuvelan

For Respondents : Mr. A. Sivasubramanian Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3. Mr. D. Rajaboopathy Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for R4. Mr. Veerakathiravan, Senior Advocate for Veera Associates for R5. Mr.R.M.Arunswaminathan for R6.

WP.CRL.(MD). No.4951 of 2026

:-

1. Shanmugam

2. Karthikeyan

3. Vairavi Ravi

4. Arumugam

... Petitioners

Vs.

1. The District Collector, O/o. The District Collectorate, Sivagangai District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o District Collectorate, Sivagangai District.

3. The Tahsildar Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District.

4. The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District.

5. The Inspector of Police, Madagupatti Police Station, Sivagangai District.

6. P. Anbalagan

7. Thyagarajan ... Respondents

PRAYER :- Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 5 to forbear the respondents 6 and 7 from forcibly conducting festival (Kumbabishegam) in Sri Maha Mariamman Temple belonging to the petitioner by creating law and order in the temple premise. For Petitioners : Mr. Ajmal Khan, Senior Advocate for M/s. Ajmal Associates

For Respondents : Mr. A. Sivasubramanian Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3. Mr. C. Susikumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for R4 and R5. Mr. Veerakathiravan, Senior Advocate for Veera Associates for R6. Mr.R.M.Arunswaminathan for R7.

C O M M O N O R D E R Since the petitioner in the first case is also one of the petitioner's in the second case, for the convenience of the parities and also for the quick disposal of these two cases, a common order is passed.

2. Heard both sides.

3. The prayer in the first Writ Petition is to direct Respondent No.1 to 4 to enforce the terms of the Peace Committee proceedings dated 05.12.2018 or conduct fresh peace committee meeting under the head of the 2nd Respondent and to protect the traditional administrative and customary rights of Isai Vellalar Community People of Paganeri Village in Sri MahaMari Amman Temple by considering the petitioner's representations dated 20.05.2026 and 19.08.2026 and consequently restrain the people of Respondent No.5 and 6 from conducting any temple event by excluding the petitioner's community.

4. The second writ petition in WP.Crl.(MD).No.4951 of 2026 is to direct the respondents 1 to 5 to forbear the respondents 6

and 7 from forcibly conducting festival (Kumbabishegam) in Sri Maha Mariamman Temple belonging to the petitioner by creating law and order in the temple premise.

5. The parties in the WP.Crl.(MD).No.4795 of 2026 are also parties in WP.Crl.(MD).No.4951 of 2026. In addition to that the Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District, is an additional party in WP.Crl.(MD).No.4951 of 2026.

6. The learned Senior Advocate for the petitioner in both the cases submitted that there is a 2018 Peace Committee resolution between the Isai Vellalar Community and Nattar Community, in which there is Clause No.2 stating that the subject temple administration can be done by the Isai Vellalar Community with six clans as usual as it was done in the past. The said resolution was not disputed by the petitioner as well as the private respondents 6 and 7 in both the cases.

7. It is the case of the petitioner that the Kumbabishegam of the subject temple has been scheduled to be conducted on 13.09.2026, in which the traditional event of Muhurthakal was planted on 27.08.2026 by excluding the petitioner's community members. Now the parties, that is the private parties have come for an amicable consensus and solution to celebrate the temple Kumbabishegam scheduled on 13.09.2026 jointly. The 6th respondent belongs to the Nattar Community, 7th respondent belongs to the Nagarathar Community and the petitioner belongs to the Isai Vellalar Community. Having reached the consensus among the petitioner and respondents 6 and 7 they are representing their community before this Court, assisted by their respective advocates, of Mr. M. Ajmal Khan, learned Senior Advocate for the petitioner, Mr.Veera Kathiravan, learned Senior Advocate for the respondent No.6 and Mr. R.M.Arun Swaminathan, learned counsel for the 7th respondent. Today before this Court, the petitioner as well as the Respondent No.6 have interacted. They have given their consensus to celebrate Kumbabishegam in an amicable manner.

8. During the course of the submission, the learned Senior Advocate Mr. M. Ajmal Khan, submitted that during 2018 peace committee resolution was taken place before the Tahsildar,

Sivagangai Taluk and the Inspector of Police, Madagupatti Police Station and it may be extracted in the order. Since the parties felt that earlier resolution has to be recorded in this order, the Peace Committee resolution dated 05.12.2018 is extracted as follows: 1/ nfhtpy; Kisg;ghup cw;rtk; bjhlu;ghf 1974 $Piy 6k; njjp fpuhk bgupnahh;fshy; Kot[ bra;ag;gl;lgo ,Ujug;gpdUk; fPH;f;fhQqk; eilKiwfis bghWg;ghsu;fs; filgpoj;J ele;J bfhs;s ntz;oaJ vd Kot[ bra;ag;gl;lJ. 2/ nfhtpy; jpUtpHh Koe;jt[ld; ghfndup ehl;L fzf;F bghWg;g[ ehl;lhh;fs; Kd;dpiyapy; cz;oay; cilj;J fzf;F tHf;Ffis rupbra;J ,irntshsh;fs; fiug; bghWg;ghsh;fs; 6 egu;fs; bgaupy; Tl;lhf t';fpf; fzf;F bjhl';fp nfhtpy; gzj;ij t';fpf; fzf;fpy; brYj;jp Kiwahf epu;tfpg;gJ kw;Wk; ,irntshsh; rKjha 6 fiufhuh;fs; tHf;fk; nghy; nfhtpy; epu;thfj;jpid ftdpj;Jf;bfhs;tJ vd Kot[ bra;ag;gl;lJ. 3/ fhy';fhykhf filgpof;fg;gl;L te;j rk;gpujha';fs;. kupahij bra;jy; nghd;wit bjhlu;e;J filgpof;fg;gl ntz;Lk;/ 4/ Fk;ghgpnc&fk; nghd;w rpwg;g[ neu;t[fspy; fpuhkj;jpYs;s midj;J rKjhaj;jpdUk; j';fSf;fhd gpujpepjpfis tpHhf; fkpl;ojhu;fs; epakpj;J tpHhf;fis xw;Wika[ld; rpwg;ghf elj;JtJ vdt[k; Kot[ bra;ag;gl;lJ/ 5/ guptl;lk; fl;LtJ. jdpegu; kupahij bra;tJ filgpof;fg;gLtjpy;iy vd Kot[ bra;ag;gl;lJ/ 6/ midtUk; kdkhl;rupa';fSf;F ,lkspf;fhky; ey;ypzf;fj;njhL bray;gLtJ vd;Wk; xUkdjhf Kot[ bra;ag;gl;lJ/

9. The private parties reached the consensus with the able advice and assistance of the learned Senior Advocates and also the another advocate. Then the learned Senior Advocate Mr. M. Ajmal Khan, submitted that for conducting Kumbabishegam only, two representatives from each community may be mentioned, which enable all the parties to conduct the Kumbabishegam as per the schedule date 13.09.2026 without any difficulty or hurdle, with mutual cooperation. As far as the petitioner is concerned, the learned Senior Advocate Mr. M. Ajmal Khan, submitted that from the Isai Vellalar community, Petitioner No.1 Mr.Shanmugam and Petitioner No.4 Mr.Arumugam in second petition may be nominated as representatives. As far as the 6th respondent is concerned, who belongs to Nattar community, on instructions from 6th respondent, Mr.Veera Kathiravan, learned Senior Advocate submitted that the 6th respondent Mr. P.Anbalagan and Mr.Regunatha Chidambaram may be nominated as representatives for the Nattar community. Similarly, on behalf of the Nagarathar community, the learned Counsel for the 7th respondent Mr. R.M. Arun Swaminathan, submitted that the 7th respondent Mr.Thyagarajan and Mr.A.N.Muthu Karuppan may be nominated as representatives for the Nanagarathar community.

10. Having the parties reached the consensus and suggested, the representatives from each community, totally six members, nominated to celebrate the Kumbabishegam, this Court passes the following order: In view of the earlier Peace Committee resolution of the year 2018 and after hearing the respective parties and their counsels the following Peace Committee is constituted:

1) Mr.Shanmugam

2) Mr.Karthikeyan

3) Mr. P.Anbalagan

4) Mr.Regunatha Chidambaram

5) Mr.Thyagarajan

6) Mr.A.N.Muthu Karuppan, who are the committee members to celebrate the forthcoming Kumbabishegam scheduled on 13.09.2026. This committee would be ceased after the Kumbabishegam festival is over and after settling all the accounts to the respective stakeholders. As per the earlier Peace Committee resolution of the year 2018, the Isai Vellalar community may proceed to follow at their own.

11. The Counsel for the 7th respondent submitted that the Nagarathar community people are carrying out all the renovation work and meeting out the expenditure and only the electrical work in the said temple remains to be completed, since the petitioner already locked the temple and having the key, if the petitioner opens the temple, electrician will be able to carry out the electrical work within one or two days. Therefore, the petitioner may be advised or

directed so.

12. When this was put to the petitioner, who was present before this Court, he agreed to open the temple door and allow the electrician to carry out the electrical works.

13. The learned counsel for the 6th respondent submitted that, in abundant caution, the jurisdictional police station may be directed to provide police protection and bandobast during the kumbabishegam festival.

14. Recording the above submissions the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) is directed to inform the jurisdictional Inspector of Police, Madagupatti Police Station, Sivagangai District to provide police strength to safe guard the interest of all concerned during the kumbabishegam. The police should not ask any cost from the Committee Members who are going to conduct the Kumbabishegam, as all the three community peoples have reached consensus and give a quietus to the issue.

15. With the above direction, these writ petitions are disposed of and connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 09.09.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes/No NCC :Yes/No psa

To

1. The District Collector, O/o. The District Collectorate, Sivagangai District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o District Collectorate, Sivagangai District.

3. The Tahsildar Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District.

4. The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai District.

5. The Inspector of Police, Madagupatti Police Station, Sivagangai District.

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

DR. P. MURUGAN, J. psa

WP.CRL.(MD). No.4795 of 2026 &WP.MP.CRL.(MD).No.1118 of 2026 & WP.CRL.(MD). No.4951 of 2026 &WP.MP.CRL.(MD).No.1145 & 1146 of 2026

09.09.2026