G. Venkatachalam vs Superintendent of Police - 2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 44776

Headnote Court Copy Facts Arguments Court observation Judicial Analysis Case Map Category Hierarchy Table of Content

2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 44776

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
L. Victoria Gowri, J
G. Venkatachalam – Appellant
Versus
Superintendent of Police – Respondent
W.P Crl.(MD)No.2284 of 2026|W.M.P Crl.(MD)No.556 of 2026

Important Points

A Writ of Mandamus cannot be granted to direct action against an event when the authorities have already formally rejected the application seeking permission for such an event; the remedy lies in challenging the formal rejection order.

Subject

Constitutional Law - Writ Jurisdiction

Act Referred

Constitution of India: Art.226

Headnote

The petitioner filed a Writ Petition under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a mandamus to restrain private respondents from conducting bullock cart and horse cart races without official permission. The court noted that the police authorities had already considered and rejected a request for such permission on 18.04.2026. The central issue was whether the court should compel the authorities to act against the proposed races. The court observed that since the underlying request for permission had already been formally rejected by the competent authorities, the prayer for restraint had been rendered infructuous in its current form. The court disposed of the petition while granting the petitioner the liberty to challenge the existing rejection order through appropriate legal channels.

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: S. Kishore Kumar
For the Respondents: S. Ravi, M. Muthumanikkam, VR. Shanmuganathan

Table of Content
1. writ of mandamus is not maintainable when the underlying request has already been rejected. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)

Writ Petition Criminal filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the official respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate and immediate action to restrain the respondents 5 to 10 and his men and agents to conduct the Bullock Cart Race and Horse Cart race without getting prior and proper permission from the fourth respondent based on the petitioner's representation dated 18.04.2026 within a time frame that may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Kishore Kumar For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravi Additional Public Prosecutor for R.1, R.3 & R.4 Mr.M.Muthumanikkam Government Advocate (Civil Side)

for R.2 Mr.VR.Shanmuganathan for R.5 to R.10

ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed seeking to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the official respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate and immediate action to restrain the respondents 5 to 10 and his men and agents to conduct the Bullock Cart Race and Horse Cart race without getting prior and proper permission from the fourth respondent based on the petitioner's representation dated 18.04.2026 within a time frame that may be fixed by this Court.

2. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that already a proper representation from the 4th respondent faction has already been received by the respondent police seeking permission to conduct bullock cart race and horse cart race and the same was rejected by order dated

18.04.2026.

3. Recording the same, this Writ Petition is disposed of giving liberty to the petitioner to challenge the rejection order. No costs.

21.04.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No pnn L. VICTORIA GOWRI,J pnn To

1.The Superintendent of Police, District Police Office, Sivagangai District.

2.The Sub Collector /

Revenue Divisional Officer, Election Returning Officer (Karaikudi), Devakottai Sub Division, Sivagangai District.

3.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Devakottai Sub Division, Sivagangai District.

4.The Inspector of Police, Aravayal Police Station, Devakottai Circle, Sivagangai District.

5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.