The court emphasizes the need for police protection during religious festivals while recognizing the rights of multiple parties to celebrate.

8. Kubendran ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 4 to grant permission and provide adequate police protection for conducting temple festival and cultural programme at Sri Arulmigu Vinayagar, Sri Kaliamman, Sri Mariamman, Sri Muniyandi and Sri Karuppanaswamy Temple, S.Paraipatti Village, Vedachandur Taluk, Dindigul District scheduled on 26.03.2026, 27.03.2026, 28.03.2026 and 29.03.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 23.03.2026 as per the temple festival conducted in the year

2025 in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Dr.R.Alagumani For Respondents : Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar (R1 to R3)

Government Advocate (Crl.) Mr.M.Muthumanikkam (R4)

Government Advocate (Civil)

Mr.R.M.Arun Swaminthan (R5)

ORDER

This petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the respondents 1 to

4 to grant permission and provide adequate police protection for conducting temple festival and cultural programme at Sri Arulmigu Vinayagar, Sri Kaliamman, Sri Mariamman, Sri Muniyandi and Sri Karuppanaswamy Temple, S.Paraipatti Village, Vedachandur Taluk, Dindigul District, scheduled on 26.03.2026, 27.03.2026, 28.03.2026 and 29.03.2026 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 23.03.2026 as per the temple festival conducted in the year 2025 in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court.

2. Heard the learned counsel on either side and carefully perused the materials placed before this Court. Since no adverse order is proposed to be passed against the respondents 6 to 8, notice to them is dispensed with.

3. The very same petitioner had earlier approached this Court seeking identical relief for the previous year with regard to the same temple, and this Court, by order dated 01.04.2025 in WMP (MD) No. 6863 of 2025 in WP (MD)

No. 9189 of 2025, passed the following order:-

“I heard Mr.G.Gomathisankar for the petitioner, Mr.A.Kannan, learned Additional Government Pleader for the first respondent, Mr.M.Karunanithi, learned Government Advocate for the respondents 2 and 3 and Mr.C.Prithiv Raj for the respondents 4 to 6.

2. The dispute relates to performance of festival at Arulmigu Vinayagar, Sri Kaliamman, Sri Mariamman, Sri Muniyandi and Sri Karuppanasamy Temple at S.Paraipatti Village, Vedasandur Taluk, Dindigul District.

3. Prior to this Writ Petition, another Writ Petition came to be filed before this Court in W.P.(MD).No.8647 of 2025. After hearing the State respondents, this Court ordered the Writ Petition in the following terms:

“7.Since the cultural programme is scheduled to be held on

31.03.2025 and the time is also too short, though the peace committee meeting is fixed today, without affecting the rights of the parties in conducting the festival, this Court is inclined to direct the respondents to consider the petitioner's representation in respect of conducting cultural programme positively and also provide adequate police protection for the said programme on 31.03.2025. If any rival party want to conduct the programme on alternative date, the same can also be considered sby the official respondents.”

4. A reading of the above order shows that this Court had directed the respondents to permit conducting cultural programme and also to provide adequate police protection for the said programme on 31.03.2025. It is not in dispute that the cultural programme was held yesterday. The problem that arises today is regarding the festival to be conducted from

01.04.2025 to 04.04.2025.

5. Mr.Gomathi Sankar pleads that the petitioner has been a Poosari for Mariamman Temple fo