Court directs temple festival conduct by authorities without private privileges, mandating plastic ban and communal cleanup.

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 21.04.2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY T.Raja Karuppannan .. Petitioner – Vs. -

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1.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Endowment, 109, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Thousand Light West, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

2.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Endowment, Ammamandapam Salai, Srirangam, Trichy, Trichy District.

3.The Executive Officer, Arulmighu Sedal Marriamman Thirukovil, Having Office at, Kullunthalamman Thirukovil, 7th Cross Street, Thillai Nagar, Trichy. .. Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents, particularly the 3^rd respondent herein to conduct the Vaigasi Car Festival for the year 2026 at Arulmighu Sedal Mariamman Temple situated at Beemanagar, Tiruchirappalli District, proposed to be scheduled from 04.05.2026 to 07.06.2026 and based on the petitioner representation dated 05.03.2026, within a stipulated period as may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Sakthivel For Respondents : Mr.M.Sarangan Additional Government Pleader for R1 & R2 Mr.V.Chandrasekaran for R3

ORDER

The Writ Petition is filed to direct the respondents to conduct the Vaigasi Car Festival for the year 2026 of Arulmigu Sedal Mariamman Temple situated at Beemanagar, Tiruchirappalli District, proposed to be scheduled from 04.05.2026 to 07.06.2026, based on the representation of the petitioner, dated

05.03.2026.

2. The learned counsel would submit that even with reference to the year

2018 and subsequently, directions were given by this Court. In spite of the same for this year also when the petitioner has made the representation, the same is not answered by the respondents. The festival of the temple should not be stopped without any rhyme or reason.

3. Per contra, the learned counsel taking notice on behalf of the temple would submit that there is a dispute among the persons who claim themselves to be devotees or entitled to mandagapati, etc. For every festival and every ceremony, there are rival claims, and only because of the same, the Executive Officer is not in a position to conduct the temple festival.

4. In reply thereof, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner does not have any objection for the proposal that the festival can be conducted by the Executive Officer without any special privilege to any person. Even the others in the village may accept the proposal. It is their plea that the festival shall be conducted.

5. This Court also takes notice of the fact that every temple festival also results in a lot of littering and throwing of plastic and other solid waste throughout the village and other areas, and when there are umpteen numbers of persons who are approaching this Court to claim rights to conduct particular ceremonies and special privileges, nobody cares for the resultant solid waste and the health hazard. In many villages, the epidemics are breaking out following the temple festivals.

6. In view thereof, considering the request of the petitioner that he is willing not to claim any special privilege, this Writ Petition is disposed of on the following terms:

(i) Within one week from the date of receipt of a web copy of the order, the Executive Officer shall publish a public notice in the village and also in the notice board of the temple at such prominent places, making a proposal to conduct the temple festival from 04.05.2026 to 07.06.2026;

(ii) on behalf of the temple itself, without any special privilege to any person whatsoever, and every function and every ceremony shall be jointly done by all the villagers and the persons of the locality wi