PRAYER :-

Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to grant permission to install a statute of Freedom Fighter Pasumpon U.Muthuramalinga Thevar Ayya by replacing banner in the established interior structure (Mani Mandapam) in Survey No.795/1 at Karraikeni, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai, within a stipulated time by considering the petitioner representation dated 13.04.2026 as fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.E.Subbiah @ Jayavardhan

For Respondents : Mr.P.Rajagopalan

Government Standing Counsel for R1, R3 & R4

Mr.I.Murugesan

Government Advocate (Crl. side) for R2 & R5

ORDER

The Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus directing the respondents to grant permission to install a statue of Freedom Fighter Pasumpon U.Muthuramalinga Thevar Ayya by replacing banner in the Mani Mandapam that is already constructed in Survey No.795/1 at Karraikeni, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai.

2. The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that, out of sheer reverence for the great leader, the entire village unanimously decided to erect the statue in the said Mani Mandapam, which has already been established in S.No.795/1. There is no dispute among the villagers in this regard. A resolution to that effect has also been passed. The statue has already been made ready, but at the time of its erection, the police authorities instructed that due permission should be obtained before the erection of the statute. Therefore, the statue is now temporarily kept inside the Perumal Temple. However, when the permission was sought for, the same was not granted. The petitioner has also made a representation dated 13.04.2026.

3. The learned Government Standing Counsel would submit that as per G.O.Ms.No.629, dated 16.09.2025, no permission to erect the statue on the Government land can be granted. S.No.795/1 is a poramboke land vested in the revenue.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. side) would submit that if permission is given to the petitioner, who is the ex-president of the village, thereafter, there will be more claims for installing more statues, and the installation of statues leads to law and order problems.

5. I have considered the rival submissions made on either side and perused the material records of the case.

6. Though the petitioner claims that the entire village is interested in installing the statue in the Mani Mandapam, unfortunately for the petitioner, before the erection of the statue, no permission was obtained. G.O.Ms.No.629 was issued on 16.09.2025 and thereafter, the erection of a statue can only be as per the guidelines mentioned in the said Government Order. As per the said Government Order, with reference to permission, it is specifically mentioned in para (E) (I) that the Tahsildar has to certify that the statue/flagpole is only on the patta land and not on the Government poramboke lands, roads, highways, water sources, places of heritage, monuments and depressed class lands. In view of the said rule position, the prayer of the petitioner cannot be granted. It will be open for the petitioner to identify any non-objectionable patta land and, thereafter, make a fresh representation, if the petitioner so chooses.

7. With the above observations, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.