BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.01.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY T.Deiva Kumar ...Petitioner vs.

1.The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

2.The Public Relation Officer, Public Relation Office, Collectorate, Madurai.

3.Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, Secondary Education Board, Rep. by its President, P.B.No.86, Tranquebar House, Tiruchirappalli.

4.Rajan ...Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the entire records in connection with the impugned rejection order of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.335/SeMaTho/2025, dated 30.12.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents 1 and 2 to grant permission to the petitioner to conduct exhibition at the U.G.grounds (U.C. Higher Secondary School grounds), Arasaradi, Madurai for the period from 09.01.2026 to 26.01.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 01.01.2026 within a stipulated time fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.K.Senthil For Respondents : Mr.K.Balasubramani, Special Government Pleader for R1 and R2

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the impugned rejection order of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.335/SeMaTho/2025, dated 30.12.2025 and to direct the respondents 1 and 2 to grant permission to the petitioner to conduct exhibition at the U.G.grounds (U.C. Higher Secondary School grounds), Arasaradi, Madurai for the period from 09.01.2026 to

26.01.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 01.01.2026.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner made a representation to the second respondent to conduct exhibition in a property that belongs to the third respondent. However, the second respondent by citing the letter of the Director, News and Public Relations Department, dated 09.05.2024 rejected the request of the petitioner for the reason that within the school premises, exhibition cannot be permitted to be conducted. Hence, the Writ Petition.

3. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 would submit that in view of the letter of the Director, News and Public Relations Department, dated 09.05.2024, the second respondent rejected the request of the petitioner.

4. I have given due consideration to the submissions made on either sides.

5. The communication of the Director, News and Public Relations Department, dated 09.05.2024, is to the effect that exhibition cannot be conducted within the school premises. A perusal of the photograph produced by the parties shows that even the school has leased out its properties for commercial activities. Further, the subject property, where the petitioner seeks permission to conduct exhibition, is situated 2 kms away from the school. Though the owner of the subject property is same as the owner of the school, the conduct of exhibition is purely a commercial activity and has nothing to do with the students. Such being the case, I do not find any impediment for the second respondent to grant permission to the petitioner to conduct the exhibition in the subject premises.

6. In view of the above, the impugned order of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.335/SeMaTho/2025, dated 30.12.2025 is set aside. The second respondent, taking into consideration of the fact that the school premises has already been exploited for commercial purposes and very many shops are situated there, shall pass appropriate orders granting permission to the petitioner to conduct exhibition at U.G.grounds (U.C. Higher Secondary School grounds), Arasaradi, Madurai, forthwith.

7. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.

08.01.2026 Speaking / Non-speaking order Index : Yes/No NCC : Yes/No mbi Note: Issue order copy on 09.01.2026 To

1.The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

2.The Public Relation Officer, Public Relation Office, Collectorate, Madurai.

KRISHN