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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 25673
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J
S.Arun – Appellant
Versus
The Revenue Divisional Officer/ Sub Collector, (Returning Officer-197 Usilampatti Assembly Constituency), Usilampatti, Madurai District. – Respondent
Writ Petition
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.S.Sumesh
For the Respondents:Mr.S.Ravi (R2 & R3), Additional Public Prosecutor Mr.C.Satheesh (R1), Government Advocate (Civil)
Court conditionally permits temple festival cultural programs enforcing conditions against obscenity, late hours, and disharmony.
Headnote:First Paragraph: Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioner sought mandamus for police permission and protection for temple festival cultural programs. Facts involved representation for Sri Kaliamman Temple Festival events including drama and dance on specified dates, supported by revenue officer intimation and police circulars on cultural program permissions. Court found circulars mandate consideration of such applications, permitting events with conditions. Second Paragraph: Issue framed as directing police to grant permission per representation and intimation. Ratio: Police circulars require processing cultural program requests; court conditionally allows to ensure cultural relevance, prevent obscenity, limit timing, and maintain harmony. Third Paragraph: Writ petition disposed permitting specific programs on 31.03.2026 and 01.04.2026 subject to enumerated conditions.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. prayer for police permission for temple festival programs. (Para 1) |
| 2. police circulars mandate considering cultural program permissions. (Para 2) |
| 3. conditional permission with strict regulatory conditions. (Para 3) |
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI S.Arun ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Revenue Divisional Officer/ Sub Collector, (Returning Officer-197 Usilampatti Assembly Constituency), Usilampatti, Madurai District.
2. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Usilampatti Sub-Division, Madurai District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Chekkanurani Police Station, Madurai District. ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the second respondent to grant permission and provide adequate police protection for conducting the Sri Kaliamman Temple Festival and associated cultural programs (including Valli Thirumanam Drama and Dance Program) at Munduvelampatti Village, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai District scheduled to be held on 01.04.2026 based on the petitioner's representation dated 24.03.2026 and also as per the intimation given by the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.1370/2026/A1, dated
24.03.2026.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sumesh For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravi (R2 & R3)
Additional Public Prosecutor Mr.C.Satheesh (R1)
Government Advocate (Civil)
ORDER
This petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the second respondent to grant permission and provide adequate police protection for conducting the Sri Kaliamman Temple Festival and associated cultural programs (including Valli Thirumanam Drama and Dance Program) at Munduvelampatti Village, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai District scheduled to be held on 01.04.2026 based on the petitioner's representation dated 24.03.2026 and also as per the intimation given by the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.
1370/2026/A1, dated 24.03.2026.
2. It is brought to the notice of this Court that the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu issued two circulars bearing Rc.No.159539/Crime. 4(3)/2018, signed on 31.10.2018 and Rc.007301/GenlI(1)/2019, dated 09.04.2019, wherein instructions have been given to the Inspectors of Police throughout Tamil Nadu for consideration of applications seeking permission for conducting cultural programme.
3. In view of the above, this Writ Petition is disposed on the following conditions:-
(a) The petitioner is permitted to conduct Valli Thirumanam Drama on
31.03.2026 and Adal Padal program on 01.04.2026, in connection with the festival at Sri Kaliamman Temple Festival at Munduvelampatti Village, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai District.
(b) The organisers, who shall be the responsible members of the festival committee, shall ensure that only cultural programs having some relevance to the temple or the festival in question would be conducted and there shall not be any obscene display/dance being conducted;
(c) The program shall not extend beyond 10 p.m.;
(d) No women participating in the cultural program would be depicted or portrayed in an obscene or undignified manner either in the form of clothing or otherwise;
(e) The music that shall be used shall be in sync with the precincts of the temple and double meaning songs should not be played;
(f) There shall be no supply of alcohol or any intoxicating material in and around the area where cultural program is scheduled to be held;
(g) None of the songs or dances performed in the said programme shall exhibit any political tone, tenor, or colour, nor shall they relate to or promote any religion, community, or caste.
(h) Organizers shall not erect any digital banners/placards on either side of the arterial roads, platforms, walkways/major roads and any other roads;
(i) the function should not affect caste, religious or communal harmony and shall be conducted without any discrimination;
(j) the Police is empowered to stop the programme, if it exceeds beyond the permitted time;
(k) if any untoward incident takes place, the organizers of the programme be made res
