BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 19/02/2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY Muthusamy ... Petitioner Vs

1. The District Collector, District Collector Office, Virudhunagar District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar District.

3. The Thasildar, Taluk Office, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

4. The Superintendent of Police,, O/o. Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar District.

5.The Inspector of Police, Seithur Police Station, Seithur, Virudhunagar District.

... Respondents PRAYER :-

To issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 4 to consider the petitioner's representations and reopen the Arulmigu Vathalakundu Mariamman Temple situated at Sundararajapuram Village, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District and consequently permit the petitioner and the villagers to exercise their hereditary and customary worshipping rights based on the petitioner's representations dated 25.06.2025 and 09.02.2026 within a stipulated time that may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : P.Ponraj, Advocate.

For R4 & R5 : Mr.A.S.Abul Kalaam Azad, Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

For R1 to R3 :Mr.P.Thambidurai Government Advocate

ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to consider the petitioner's representations and reopen the Arulmigu Vathalakundu Mariamman Temple situated at Sundararajapuram Village, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District and consequently permit the petitioner and the villagers to exercise their hereditary and customary worshipping rights based on the petitioner's representations dated 25.06.2025 and 09.02.2026 within a stipulated time that may be fixed by this Court.

2. Heard both sides.

3.Already there are two rival groups. Hence, the third respondent Tahsildar conducted Peace Committee Meeting and resolution was passed on 18.06.2025. Based on the resolution, the temple was locked. The petitioner being a worshipper filed the present petition to open the temple and grant permission to worship alone on Tuesdays and Fridays.

4.The learned Government Advocate(crl. Side)

submitted that the issue is pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, when the petitioner as worshipper seeking to open the temple. Hence, the Tahsildar is directed to again conduct Peace Committee Meeting to the limited extent to allow the devotees for worship in the temple on all Tuesdays and Fridays alone, by calling rival parties and also the petitioner. The said exercise shall be conducted within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5.With this direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No Costs.

19.02.2026 PJL Note:Issue order copy on 23.02.2026.

TO

1. The District Collector, District Collector Office, Virudhunagar District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar District.

3. The Thasildar, Taluk Office, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

4. The Superintendent of Police,, O/o. Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar District.

5.The Inspector of Police, Seithur Police Station, Seithur, Virudhunagar District.

S.SRIMATHY,J PJL ORDER IN WP CRL.(MD) No.935 of 2026 Date : 19/02/2026