Temple management disputes referred to civil court; worship open to all communities pending adjudication.

COMMON ORDER

These writ petitions have been filed seeking for a direction to the respondents 1 to 5 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 09.03.2026 and also challenging the order passed by the 2^nd Respondent in Na.Ka.A2/118/2026 dt.01.04.2026 seeking with a direction to the respondents to grant permission to the petitioner for conducting the temple festival of Arulmighu Shri Kappara Ayyanar (Chithirai Thiruvizha) along with Sri Valli Thirumanam Nadagam scheduled to be held on 19.04.2026 at Kapparapatti Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District, by imposing reasonable conditions.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in WP(MD)No.2062 of 2026 submitted that there are several communities in Kapparapatti, where a temple, namely Sri Kapara Ayyanar Kovil, is situated, and the temple festival is conducted by collecting contributions from the villagers. In the year 2025, certain disputes arose regarding the conduct of the temple festival. Some members of the Muthirayar community were attempting to prevent people belonging to the Scheduled Caste from participating in the festival. In this regard, a resolution was passed by certain persons in the said village. Hence, the petitioner, along with others, submitted a complaint before the fifth respondent police, and the fifth respondent recommended that the second respondent conduct a peace committee meeting on 03.05.2025. However, the other parties were not willing to celebrate the temple festival jointly with the petitioner’s group. Considering the likelihood of a law and order problem, the third respondent declined to grant permission to conduct the temple festival, and consequently, the festival was cancelled, however, by permitting the people from all the communities to worship the God in the said temple on Friday and Tuesday.

3. At the time of Shivaratri festival, some persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste had gone to the temple; however, they were not permitted to enter and were also assaulted. In this regard, a complaint was lodged before the fifth respondent police, and CSR No.31 of 2026 was issued. Despite the issuance of the CSR, no further action has been taken.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor and the learned Government Advocate, Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar, appearing for the respondent police submitted that the rival party had already filed a petition before this Court in WP Crl. (MD)No.1646 of 2026 in which by order dated 25.03.2026, this Court had passed an order directing the Revenue Divisional Officer concerned to conduct a peace committee and conclude the same within a week.

5. The learned Government Advocates appearing for the official respondents, submitted that a peace committee meeting was conducted and permission to conduct the temple festival was denied, citing the possibility of a law and order problem. However, permission was granted to people belonging to all communities to continue worshipping.

6. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either sides and carefully perused the materials placed before this Court.

7. It is seen that, despite the order passed by the second respondent preventing both communities from conducting the temple festival, members of the Muthirayar community are making arrangements to conduct the festival without accommodating persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste. In this regard, the fifth respondent police are directed to intervene, if the temple festival is organized by any group.

8. These writ petitions are disposed of with a direction to the petitioners in both the writ petitions to approach the appropriate Civil Court for adjudication of the issue relating to the right of administration and manag