IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 13.03.2026 CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI Contempt Petition No.864 of 2026 Venkatesan … Petitioner Vs

1. Thiru.Vishwesh Balasubramaniam Shastri, IPS The Superintendent of Police Ariyalur District.

2. Mrs.Shreeja The Revenue Divisional Officer Udayarpalayam Division Ariyalur 621 704. … Respondents Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for their willful disobedience of the Court order dated 17/7/2025 made in W.P.No.26255 of 2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.D. Parventhan For Respondents : Ms.V.Yamunadevi Special Government Pleader

ORDER

This Contempt Petition has been filed alleging wilful disobedience of the order passed by this Court in W.P. No.26255 of 2025, dated 17.07.2025.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner had earlier filed the above writ petition seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to permit the petitioner and other persons belonging to petitioner’s community to enter the Temple viz., Arulmigu Puthukudi Ayyanar Temple and permit them to do worship and other ritual activities and permit them to participate in the Temple Car Festival conducted from 16.07.2025 to

31.07.2025.

3. This Court, by order dated 17.07.2025, issued directions to the respondents 2 and 4 therein to ensure that the petitioner and similarly placed persons are permitted to participate in the festival. According to the petitioner, the said order was not properly implemented and therefore the present Contempt Petition has been filed.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that pursuant to the order passed by this Court on 17.07.2025, certain law and order issues arose in connection with the conduct of the festival, following which, a peace committee meeting was convened before the Revenue Divisional Officer. Though the petitioner was permitted to participate in the Car festival, the grievance expressed by the petitioner is that after the festival, he and his community persons were not permitted to perform certain customary rituals viz., preparing Pongal and ear-boring ceremony in the Temple premises.

5. Learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, submitted that the respondents have taken all necessary steps to maintain law and order and to implement the order of this Court. She further submitted that no grievance was expressed by the petitioner prior to filing the present Contempt Petition and that the petitioner and his community persons will be permitted to perform Pongal and other customary rituals in the Temple premises in accordance with law.

6. Recording the said submission made by the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents and in view of the steps taken by the authorities, this Court is of the view that no case of wilful disobedience is made out. Accordingly, the Contempt Petition is closed.

13.03.2026 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order / Non-speaking order Neutral Citation Case : Yes / No vsi2 M. DHANDAPANI, J.

vsi2

13.03.2026