Civil court decree mandating joint temple management committee prevails over informal police compromises.

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 27.03.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI W.P.Crl.(MD)No.1605 of 2026 R.Arumugam ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.

2.The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi. 3.The Revenue Tahsildar, Tenkasi Taluk, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi. 4.The Inspector of Police, Sambavar Vadakarai Police Station, Tenkasi District.

5.S.Eswaran

6.R.Murugan ... Respondents PRAYER :-Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2^nd and 4^th respondents to grant permission for conducting festival of Sri Muppudathi Amman Temple by mela theru members and provide adequate police protection by considering the petitioner representation dated 02.02.2026 in the light of judgment passed in A.S.No.105 of 1991 dated 08.09.1993 on the file of the learned Sub Court, Tenkasi.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Maheswaran For R1 & R3 : Mr.C.Satheesh Government Advocate(Civil Side)

For R2 & R4 : Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar Government Advocate(Crl.Side)

For R5 : Mr.A.Haja Mohideen For R6 : Mr.K.Jeyamohan

ORDER

Seeking to direct 2^nd and 4^th respondents to grant permission for conducting festival of Sri Muppudathi Amman Temple by Mela Theru members and provide adequate police protection considering the petitioner's representation dated 02.02.2026 in the light of the judgment passed in A.S.No.105 of 1991 dated 08.09.1993 on the file of the learned Sub Court, Tenkasi, this writ petition is filed.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the 5^th respondent is hindering the people of Mela Theru represented by the petitioner from conducting festival. The learned counsel for the petitioner further pointed out that the temple belongs to Devendra Kula Vellalar Community consisting of more than 1500 families who are residing in four streets, namely Nadu Theru, Mela Theru, Therku Theru and Vadakku Theru, who are entitled to conduct the festival of the aforesaid temple and the petitioner belong to Mela Theru. A joint administrative committee comprising members from all the four streets have been managing the affairs of the Muppudathi Amman Temple.

3. The learned counsel for the 5^th respondent submitted that the claim of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the administrative committee has been selected from all the four streets is incorrect and the aforesaid temple has been managed by Aatha group and Amma group.

4. The learned counsel for the 6^th respondent claims that he hails from the Nadu Theru. He fairly conceded with the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the members of the administrative committee is selected from time to time, from among the representatives of all the four streets in terms of the judgment and decree in A.S.No.105 of 1991 dated 08.09.1993 and since then, the temple festival is conducted only by such a committee following the terms of the aforesaid judgment and decree as contended by the learned counsel for the petitioner. However, suddenly the 5^th respondent has crept in creating troubles unnecessarily.

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

6. The 3^rd respondent is directed to conduct peace committee afresh, requiring to appear the petitioner group, 5^th respondent group, 6^th respondent group, and also the representatives from Nadu Theru, Mela Theru, Therku Theru and Vadakku Theru and peruse the judgment and decree passed by the learned Sub Court, Tenkasi in A.S.No.105 of 1991 dated 08.09.1993 and thereafter, conclude the peace committee, facilitating the members of the said temple to conduct temple