IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09.04.2025 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN R.Pradeep ... Petitioner Vs.

The Inspector of Police, Killai Police Station, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District 608 002. ..Respondent PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the entire records relating to the impugned proceedings No.01/Ki.Ka.Ni/2025 dated 01.04.2025 from the file of the respondent, quash the same and further direct the respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 26.03.2025 for seeking police protections and to grant permission to conduct the cultural programme of Adal Padal on 11.04.2025 at 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm at “Sri Balamurugan Kovil Panguni Uthiram Festival” Kovilampundi Village, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Mayilnathan For Respondent : Mr.R.Vinothraja, Government Advocate (crl.side).

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner challenging the order of rejection dated 01.04.2025 passed by the respondent, wherein permission to conduct the Aadal Padal programme, scheduled for 11.04.2025, at the “Sri Balamurugan Kovil Panguni Uthiram Festival” Kovilampundi Village, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District, was refused. The petitioner seeks, by way of this petition, a direction to grant permission for the conduct of the aforementioned programme, along with adequate police protection for its peaceful and orderly execution.

2. The petitioner has averred that he is a member of the festival committee of the aforesaid temple. It is stated that the village has decided to celebrate the temple festival, and the Sri Balamurugan Kovil Panguni Uthiram Festival has been in existence for several years, and the temple itself having an age of over five centuries. The annual festival has been conducted in a grand manner every year for several decades. For the current year, the temple festival is scheduled to take place over a period of seven days, with the petitioner intending to hold the Adal Padal programme on 11.04.2025. Consequently, the petitioner submitted a representation to the respondent seeking permission to conduct the Aadal Padal programme on the said date. However, the respondent, without properly considering the aforementioned circumstances, rejected the petitioner’s request for permission. The rejection was made on the ground that the Aadal Padal programme, if conducted, could potentially lead to a law and order problem. Therefore, the present writ petition has been filed challenging the respondent's decision.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that this Court repeatedly directs the police officials to grant permission to conduct Aadal padal programme and other related programmes with certain conditions. Therefore, he prayed to quash the impugned order and prayed to grant permission to conduct Aadal padal programme on 11.04.2025.

4. The learned Government Advocate (crl.side) appearing for the respondent submitted that if the petitioner is allowed to conduct Aadal padal programme, there will be a law and order problem. Therefore, this writ petition is liable to be dismissed.

5. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed on record.

6. It is relevant to rely the order passed by the Division Bench of this Court dated 10.07.2018 made in W.P.(MD)No.14491 of 2018, where, this Court has held as follows:

“3. ....... In M.Velmurugan V. The Superintendent of Police, on 24.01.2018. In passing orders in W.P.(MD) No.13440 of 2017, dated 20.07.2017, this Court had observed as follows:-

“3.We may at the very outset note that the celebrations pertain to Arulmighu Sankaranarayana Swamy Temple, Sankarankovil. It is a very ancient and renowed Temple. It is under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. It is beyond dispute that celebrations in such Temple