Mandamus issued directing police enquiry under S.64 BNSS for joint temple festival conduct per prior orders, preventing ostracization.

ORDER

Seeking to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 20.03.2026 and take necessary action against the private respondents 5 to 24 for their high handedness in excommunicating the petitioner and others in conducting Panguni Temple festival of Arulmigu Koppattiamman @ Malaikovil situated at Vellalapatti Village, Mattaparaipatti, Manapparai Taluk, Trichy District on their own without the presence of the petitioner's group, this writ petition is filed.

2. Since no adverse order is passed against the private respondents, notice to the private respondents is dispensed with.

3. The petitioner is the Poojari of the subject temple. The petitioner's father Sanga Gounder was the Poojari of the said temple till his demise. Subsequently, the Poojari service devolved on the petitioner and he is continuing to do the same without any hindrance. However, every year, in the Tamil month of Panguni, festival would be celebrated for five days observing various procedures including Karagam and other celebrations. Every year, the said festival are being jointly conducted by the petitioner's Oorali Gounder Vagaiyarah joining together with other people of the village in a collective manner without any disturbance. While so, the respondents 5 to 24 had formed themselves as a group and are attempting to conduct the Panguni festival during the year 2025 without including the petitioner's group and unnecessarily restraining the petitioner and his group from worshipping the goddess. In this regard, the 5^th respondent had filed a writ petition in W.P(MD)No.8425 of 2025 before this Court for the purpose of conducting the said Panguni temple festival and the petitioner and his group were also a party to the writ petition. This Court, by order dated 07.04.2025, based on the submission of the official respondents, had passed an order directing the police to give police protection to the temple festival, if all the parties joined together and celebrate the festival. The permission was thus granted for conducting festival bulls jumping over the garlands function. The 3^rd respondent had already conducted a Peace Committee on 08.03.20252025 and it was resolved that both the parties should jointly conduct the said festival and one party cannot individually conduct the festival without the presence of the other parties. Thereafter, on 09.04.2025, the

4^th respondent had passed an order directing both the parties to conduct the temple festival. Thereafter, the said festival was conducted by all the parties, including the petitioner and the rival parties faction together. However, this year, the respondents 5 to 24 object the petitioner and his group from conducting the temple festival. In this regard, representation has been made on 20.03.2026 to the respondents 1 to 3 in person and the same is not considered.

Hence, this writ petition.

4. The learned Government Advocate submitted that enquiry is pending in this regard.

5. In view of the above circumstances, the respondent police is directed to put the petitioner as well as the respondents 5 to 24 on notice under Section 64 BNSS and conduct enquiry and conclude the same within a week from the date of receipt of copy of this order and ensure the conduct of temple festival by the petitioner group. It is made clear that no first honor would be permitted to any of the parties. The enquiry shall be conducted on 30.04.2026.