Court permitted devotional singing in temple shrine without slogans, balancing religious expression and public order.

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI Chellavelu ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Commissioner of Police, Office of Commissioner of Police, Madurai District.

2.The Sub Inspector of Police, B1 Vilakuthoon Police Station, Madurai District.

3.The Joint Commissioner, Shri Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai District. ... Respondents (R3 is suo motu impleaded by this Court vide order dated 01.04.2026)

PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent to give permission for conducting Peaceful Protest on 03.04.2026 in front of the Puthu Mandapam, opposite the East Gopuram of the Swami Sannadhi of Shri. Meenkashi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai District by considering petitioner's representation dated 14.03.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Aadithya Alies Ayyanar For Respondents : Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar Government Advocate(Criminal)

ORDER

This writ petition is filed seeking direction to the respondents to give permission for conducting peaceful protest on 03.04.2026 in front of the Puthu Mandapam, opposite the East Gopuram of the Swami Sannadhi of Shri. Meenkashi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai District by considering petitioner's representation dated 14.03.2026.

2. The learned Government Advocate(Criminal side) submitted that there is no question of giving any permission for peaceful protest opposite the East Gopuram of the Swami Sannadhi, because that will cause untold agony to the common public and traffic consistency due to the congestion in the said area.

3. However, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that being authorised members of the Trust, namely Velappadesikar Thirukkoottam, their only plight is that proper Palabhishekam should be conducted to the Shri Mangayarkkarasiyar, Sri Ninraseer Nedumaran Bayanar and Sri Kulachirai Nayanar installed in the Nalvar Shrine located in the Swami Sannathi of Shri Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai, for which they are intending to conduct a peaceful protest by singing Devaram and Thiruvasagam in front of Puthu Mandapam, opposite the East Gopuram of the Swami Sannadhi of Shri. Meenkashi Sundareswarar Temple.

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

5. The Joint Commissioner, Shri Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai District is suo motu impleaded as 3^rd respondent.

6. Considering the fact that the petitioner is seeking permission only to sing Devaram and Thiruvasagam, the 3^rd respondent is directed to facilitate the petitioner and 9 persons to sing Devaram and Thiruvasagam in front of Nalvar Shrine located in the Swami Sannathi on 07.04.2026 without raising any slogans and without causing any trouble to the devotees. It is made clear that only Devaram and Thiruvasagam would be sung and the petitioner and 9 persons will be permitted by the 3^rd respondent to sing Devaram and Thiruvasagam as required by the petitioner only on giving an undertaking in writing to the 3^rd respondent that they will not raise any slogans inside the temple.

7. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.