2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 41789

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
R. Vijayakumar, J
P. Varatharajan – Appellant
Versus
Superintendent of Police – Respondent
Writ Petition

The court directed the police to provide protection for a religious festival conditional upon the rival groups reaching a consensus to hold the event jointly, emphasizing the role of peace committees in dispute resolution.

Headnote:The petitioner filed a Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking police protection for a local religious festival, Vaikasi Pongal Thiruvizha. The court noted that in the previous year, a peace committee meeting had facilitated the joint conduct of the festival by rival groups, and police had provided protection accordingly. The court directed the police to provide security, contingent upon the rival groups reaching an agreement to conduct the festival jointly. The core issue was whether the court should compel police protection for a community event involving potentially rival factions. The Ratio Decidendi suggests that state machinery, specifically police protection, is most effectively deployed when peace committee mechanisms and consensus between stakeholders are established. The court's reasoning balances the duty to maintain law and order with the practical necessity of stakeholder cooperation. The Writ Petition stands disposed of.