Court permits limited extension for temple festival fireworks till midnight with strict conditions on decency and public order.

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI Koottalamoodu Arulmighu Bathreshwari Devasthanam, rep., by its Secretary, C.Rajkumar ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, Kanyakumari.

2.The Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

3.The Tahsildar, Killiyoor, Kanyakumari District, Kanyakumari.

4.The Inspector of Police, Pudhukadai Police Station, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 3 and 4 to grant necessary permission for further extension of time to conduct the programs of the temple festival beyond 10.00 pm., from 03.05.2026 to 12.05.2026 at Koottalamoodu Arulmigu Bathreshwari Amman Temple situated at Painkulam, Kanyakumari District by considering the representation of the petitioner dated

20.04.2026.

For Petitioner : Ms.S.Raghaventhere for Mr.K.Jeyamohan For R1 & R3 : Mr.C.Satheesh Government Advocate (Civil side)

For R2 & R4 : Mr.S.Ravi Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

Seeking to direct the respondents 3 and 4 to grant necessary permission for further extension of time to conduct the programs of the Temple Festival beyond 10.00 p.m., from 03.05.2026 to 12.05.2026 at 'Koottalamoodu Arulmigu Bathreshwari Amman Temple' situated at Painkulam, Kanyakumari District by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 20.04.2026, this writ petition is filed.

2.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that Koottalamoodu Arulmigu Bathreshwari Amman Temple is a 400-year-old temple where the annual festival is conducted for ten days continuously, and sought the indulgence of this Court to permit the conduct of various programmes from

03.05.2026 to 12.05.2026 beyond 10.00 p.m.

3.This Court carefully had perused the affidavit and the nature of the events to be conducted from 03.05.2026 to 12.05.2026.

4.All the programmes mentioned in paragraph 3 of the affidavit, scheduled from 03.05.2026 to 11.05.2026, are in the nature of dramas, orchestras, dance shows and other entertainment activities, which can very well be concluded within 10.00 p.m. However, insofar as the programme scheduled on 12.05.2026, namely, Singari Melam and Display of Fire Work, is concerned, the same is permitted to be conducted up to 12.00 midnight.

5.In view of the above observations, this Court directs the petitioner temple to conclude the daily events of the aforesaid temple festival from 03.05.2026 to 11.05.2026 before 10.00 p.m. As far as the programme scheduled on 12.05.2026, namely, Singari Melam and Display of Fire Work is concerned, the petitioner temple is permitted to conduct the same till 12.00 midnight. It is made clear that the entire display of fireworks shall be wound up by 12.00 midnight. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions:-

(a) The petitioner temple is permitted to conduct programs from

03.05.2026 to 11.05.2026 upto 10.00 p.m., and the program on 12.05.2026 upto 12.00 midnight in 'Koottalamoodu Arulmigu Bathreshwari Amman Temple'

situated at Painkulam, Kanyakumari District.

(b) The organisers, who shall be the responsible members of the festival committee, shall ensure that only cultural programs having some relevance to the temple or the festival in question would be conducted and there shall not be any obscene display/dance being conducted;

(c) The program shall not extend beyond the aforesaid time limit;

(d) No women participating in the cultural program would be depicted or portrayed in an obscene or undignified manner either in the form of clothing or otherwise;

(e) The music that shall be used shall be in sync with the precincts of the temple and double meaning songs should not be played;

(f) There shall