Court permits festival participation without recognizing poojari rights, enforcing prior police permission.

ORDER

Seeking direction to the respondents 1 and 2 to provide adequate police protection to the petitioner and the devotees for peacefully conducting the 'Panguni Uthiram' festival and poojas in connection with “Arulmigu Ariyanachchi Amman Sannthi and Arulmigu Malaiyandi Sannathi” situated at Puluthipatti Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District, on 01.04.2026, this writ petition is filed.

2.When the matter came up for hearing, the learned counsel appearing for the third respondent submitted that already the temple festival has commenced and is peacefully going on in terms of the permission already granted by the second respondent police to the third respondent.

3. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) submitted that on the application dated 25.03.2026 received from one Ayyakalai, permission was duly granted for conduct of the aforesaid temple festival, vide proceedings dated 28.03.2026. In this regard, he also placed before me the said proceedings for perusal.

4. Heard either side and carefully perused the materials available on record.

5.Though the learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the petitioner is being prevented from attending the Panguni Uttaram festival, the learned counsel for the third respondent submitted that there is no discrimination against anyone attending the festival. He further pointed out that the petitioner’s claim is not merely to attend the Panguni Uttaram festival, but also to act as a poojari of the said temple, which is unwarranted, as there is already an existing village poosari in the village.

6.In view of the above submission, and in terms of the permission which has already been granted vide proceedings dated 28.03.2026, since the temple festival has already commenced and is ongoing, the petitioner is permitted to participate in the Panguni Uttaram festival in the aforesaid temples. It is made clear that the third respondent or any other person shall not prevent the petitioner from participating in the festival. It is further made clear that the petitioner shall not claim any Poosari rights.

7.With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of.