BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 12-02-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY R.Asai Kumar Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Superintendent of Police Madurai District, Madurai.

2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Usilampatti Sub Division, Madurai District.

3. The Inspector of Police Sekkanurani Police Station, Madurai District.

4. P.Kaluvan

5. V.Ammavasi 6. M.Adhiyaraja Respondent(s)

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.V.Nagapandi For Respondent(s):

Mr.A.S.Abul Kalaam Azad, Government Advocate (crl. Side), for R-1 to R-3 Mr.R.G.Shankar Ganesh, for R-4 Mr.P. Rajagopalan, for R-5 & R-6 Prayer: To issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1 to 3 respondents to provide police protection for the Maha Shivaratri Festival from 15.02.2026 to 18.02.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 18.01.2026.

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1 to 3 respondents to provide police protection for the Maha Shivaratri Festival from 15.02.2026 to 18.02.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 18.01.2026.

2. According to the petitioner, he is the Periya Poosari [Chief Priest] of the temple. They used to take the boxes from the village and keep it in the temple and worship the God. Due to some misunderstanding between the petitioner and the other Pangali, they want to create law and order issue, thereby, he sent the representation to the respondent police but the same has not been considered.

Hence this petition.

3.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police would submit that there are some disputes between the petitioner and the other pangalis in respect of conducting the festival and if the petitioner undertakes to conduct festival without any law and order issue, the respondents will consider the same.

4. Mr.R.G.Shankar Ganesh, Advocate represented on behalf of the one of the pangalis submitted that he is the interested person in this temple. Further submitted already so many litigations have been filed by both the parties and this petitioner is not the poojari of the temple and thereby, suppressing the material facts this petition is filed.

5. Considering the limited scope of the prayer sought for in this petition, this Court, without going into the merits on the rights of the parties in respect of the temple and also as per the order passed by the W.P(MD)No.5205 of 2025 Assistant Commissioner, HR and CE Department, one A.V.Santhosam, Poojari can take the two boxes for this year festival and the other rights of the parties can be decided before the appropriate forum and the respondent police shall ensure the safety of the public who participate in the festival and also ensure the maintenance of law and order.

6.With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No Costs.

12-02-2026 KSA Note : Issue a copy of order on 16.02.2026 To

1. The Superintendent of Police Madurai District, Madurai.

2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Usilampatti Sub Division, Madurai District.

3. The Inspector of Police Sekkanurani Police Station, Madurai District.

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

S.SRIMATHY,J KSA ORDER IN WP CRL.(MD) No.830 of 2026 Date : 12.02.2026