Court directs fresh Peace Committee to resolve temple priestly rights and construction disputes post-lapsed prior resolution.

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 18.03.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI Sundar Rajan ... Petitioner Vs.

State rep., by

1.The Tahsildar, Peravurani Taluk Office, Peravurani, Thanjavur District.

2.The Inspector of Police, Peravurani Police Station, Peravurani, Thanjavur District.

3.Mu.Mu.Alagarsamy ... Respondents PRAYER :-Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to implement the Peace Committee decision dated 30.07.2022 and consequently direct the first and second respondent to ensure participation of the petitioner and other Priestly families in the Arulmigu Ayyanar Temple affairs situated in Old Tholaiyen No.127 and New Survey No.127/1 at Kallankadu, Kuruvikarambai (Panchayat) Indira Colony, Peravurani (Taluk) Thanjavur (District ) and to prevent any law and order problem.

For Petitioner : Mr.V.Selvakumar For R1 : Mr.C.Satheesh Government Advocate (Civil side)

For R2 : Mr.M.Sakthikumar Government Advocate (Crl.side)

ORDER

Seeking direction to the first respondent to implement the Peace Committee decision dated 30.07.2022 and consequently, direct the first and second respondent to ensure participation of the petitioner and other Priestly families in “Arulmigu Ayyanar Temple affairs” situated in Old Tholaiyen No.127 and New Survey No.127/1 at Kallankadu, Kuruvikarambai (Panchayat) Indira Colony, Peravurani (Taluk)

Thanjavur (District), this writ petition is filed.

2.Since no adverse order is going to be passed against the third respondent, notice to him is dispensed with.

3.The learned counsel for petitioner submitted that in New Survey No.127/1, there exists the petitioner's family deity temple, namely “Arulmighu Ayyanar Temple along with the associated deities, namely Shri Pushpambikai, Shri Kamalambikai, Shri Chinna Karuppar, Shri Periya Karuppar, Shri Sannasi, Shri Kurathi Amman, Shri Thundikkaran, Shri Kaaliyammal, Shri Munnodiyar, Shri Muneeswarar, and Shri Nagammal”. The said temple has been worshipped by about 55 families belonging to Mutharaiyar community of the petitioner's Village, including the petitioner, for the past six generations. From the time of the petitioner's great-grandfather, his family have been serving as the hereditary priests of the said temple and presently, the petitioner is performing the duty as the priest. The priestly lineage families included Veerappan, Mahalingam, Veeramani, Palanivelu, Saraboji, Rajarajan, Chinnappa, Mathiyazhagan and Sivaraman.

4.The temple was constructed before 70 years and electricity connection stands in the name of the petitioner. Since that temple had become dilapidated in the year 2012, 55 families collectively decided to renovate the temple by collecting a sum of Rs.5,000/- from each family. In this regard, certain disputes had arisen between the persons, as a result of which, renovation work could not be completed. Thereafter, the third respondent attempted to conduct Pongal and worship in the temple, excluding the priestly lineage families, including the petitioner, resulting in law and order problems between two groups. Therefore, based on the recommendation of the second respondent police, a Peace Committee Meeting was convened on 30.07.2022 before the first respondent.

5.In the said meeting, it was resolved that the earlier accounts need not be discussed and new administrators shall maintain proper accounts for future collections and expenditure and the details of collection and expenditure relating to temple festival, construction and kumbabhishegam shall be furnished to every family by way of notice and that the existing customary practices relati