A person cannot be excommunicated from participating in a public temple festival or contributing to its funds based on inter-community marriage.

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W.P.Crl.(MD) No.2271 of 2025

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 03.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI

W.P.Crl.(MD).No.2271 of 2025

and

W.M.P.(MD)No.531 of 2025

V.Murugan .... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The District Collector,

District Collectorate,

Karur District.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer,

Revenue Divisional Office,

Kulithalai,

Karur District.

3.The Tahsildhar,

Kadavoor Taluk,

Karur District.

4.The Inspector of Police,

Thogaimalai Police Station,

Karur District.

5.Kanniyappan ...Respondents

Prayer : Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of

India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents No.1 to

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W.P.Crl.(MD) No.2271 of 2025

4 to take action against the 5^th respondent for excommunicate the

petitioner and his family members for worshipping the temple festival

of Sri Arulmigu Bhagavathy Amman, Sri Murugan and Sri Vinayagar

temple, Komalipatti, Pannapatti Village, Kadavoor Taluk, Karur

District, based on the petitioner's representation dated 27.10.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr. B.Prasanna Vinoth

For R-1 to R-3 : Mr.M.Muthumanickkam

Government Advocate (Civil)

For R-4 : Mr.S.S.Manoj

Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

Seeking to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take action against

the 5^th respondent for excommunicating the petitioner and his family

members from worshipping in the temple festival of Sri Arulmigu

Bhagavathy Amman, Sri Murugan and Sri Vinayagar temple,

Komalipatti, Pannapatti Village, Kadavoor Taluk, Karur District,

based on the petitioner's representation dated 27.10.2025, this writ

petition is filed.

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W.P.Crl.(MD) No.2271 of 2025

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that on

several occasions the temple festivals were conducted since the

temple belonged to the general public and the same was also

constructed by the funds of all the villagers, and the consecration of

the temple was also conducted by the funds collected from all the

villagers. The fund collected from the villagers for the temple is

known as Thalaikattuvari. However, when the temple festival was

announced on 01.12.2025, in terms of the common decision of the

villagers, the respondent No.5, who is the village Nattamai, blatantly

refused to receive Thalaikattuvari from the petitioner and also

hindered the petitioner's and his family's participation in the temple

festival, excommunicating him for the sole reason that the petitioner

had married a woman from another community.

3. On 24.10.2025, when the petitioner had paid

Thalaikattuvari of Rs.15,000/-, the 5^th respondent had refused to

receive the same and had also entered in a verbal altercation with

the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner had made a representation to

the respondents 1 to 4 in this regard. However, the same was not

considered. In the meanwhile, the temple festival is also over.

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W.P.Crl.(MD) No.2271 of 2025

4. The learned Government Advocate Mr.S.S.Manoj submitted

that all the indifferences were resolved by the interference of the 4^th

respondent police and the petitioner as well as the 5^th respondent,

and all the villagers amicably settled their disputes and have

conducted the function on 01.12.2025 without any permissions.

5. Heard the learned counsels on either side and carefully

perused the materials available on record.

6. It is made clear that even in the future, by all means, the 5^th

respondent should not excommunicate the petitioner and his family

from participating in or giving Thalaikattuvari to the temp