JUDGMENT :

S.SOUNTHAR, J.

Heard Mr.Vijaya Narayan, learned Senior Counsel, Mrs.Hema Sampath, learned Senior Counsel, Mr.Srinivasa Raghavan, learned Senior Counsel, Mr.A.K.Sriram, learned Senior Counsel, Mr.P.V.Balasubramaniam, learned Senior Counsel and Mr.K.B.S.Rajan, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.M.V.Swaroop, learned counsel appearing for the appellant in W.A.No.1381 of 2022, petitioner in W.P.No.13027 of 2021 and 5^th respondent in W.A.No.1382 of 2022, Mr.R.Palaniandavan and M/s.Varuni Mohan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant in W.A.No.1382 of 2022, petitioner in Cont.P.No.367 of 2020, 5^th respondent in W.A.Nos.1381 of 2022 and 11^th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.G.Rajagopalan, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.Abhinav Parthasarathy, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.No.12955 of 2022, 1^st respondent in W.A.Nos.1381 and 1382 of 2022 and 4^th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.B.K.Kannan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P.No.24729 of 2018, Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, learned Special Government Pleader Assisted by Mr.K.Karthikeyan, learned Government Advocate appearing for respondents 2 and 3 in W.A.Nos.1381 and 1382 of 2022, respondents 1 and 2 in W.P.No.12955 of 2022 and 1^st respondent, Mr.R.Bharanidharan, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 4^th respondent in 2021 and 3^rd respondent in W.P.No.12955 of 2022, Mr.R.Muniyapparaj, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the 1^st respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.S.Parthasarathy, learned Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Victor Prasath, learned counsel appearing for the 3^rd respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021 and impleading petitioner in Sub.A.No.305 of 2021, Mr.S.R.Rajagopal, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.N.V.Narayanan, learned counsel appearing for the 5^th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.N.V.Balaji, learned counsel appearing for the 6^th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.V.Raghavachari, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.Nittilakshan, learned counsel appearing for the 7^th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.Sathish Parasaran, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.Rahul Balaji, learned counsel appearing for the respondents 8 and 9 in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.C.Santhosh Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the 10^th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021 and 2^nd respondent in Cont.P.No.367 of 2020, M/s. R.Meenal, learned counsel appearing for the 12^th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Dr.M.A.Venkatakrishnan (Party-in-Person) in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.B.K.Kannan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P.No.24729 of 2018, Mr.K.Hariharan, learned counsel apearing for the 2^nd respondent in W.P.No.24729 of 2018, Mr.K.K.A.Ananthalwan (Party- in-Person) in C.M.P.Nos.2094 and 2095 of 2024, Mr.K.V.Babu, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in C.M.P.No.9449 of 2024, Mr.Rangarajan Narasimhan (Party-in-Person) in W.M.P.No.10147 of 2024, Mr.Prakash Adiapadam, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in C.M.P.No.10439 and 10445 of 2025 and Mr.T.S.Vijaya Raghavan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.M.P.No.11037 of 2024 and perused the materials available on record.

(I) Introduction:-

2. The present lis arising out of sectarian dispute between two religious groups called 'Thengalai' (hereinafter referred to as 'Southern Cult’) and Vadagalai (hereinafter referred to as 'Northern Cult'), regarding Ceremonial Worship in famous Temple called 'Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple' at Kancheepuram. The sectarian dispute between Southern and Northern Cults has got a long history of over 200 years. The rights of the respective cults were determined and adjudicated upon by this Court in various decisions. Inspite of the same, the differences between them continued and the present litigations are only the offshoot of earlier litigations. The dispute between Southern Cult and Northern Cult revolves around the duties attached with office (known as Adhiapaka Mirasi) or official performance of certain services to the Deity at the tim