THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.V.SHRAVAN KUMAR WRIT PETITION No.4880 of 2024

ORDER

Heard Sri B.Narayana Reddy, learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioners and learned Government Pleader for Endowments appearing for the respondents. With their consent, this writ petition is disposed of at the stage of admission.

2. This writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer:

“declare the action of the Respondent No.2 in issuing the Proceedings in Rc No.G2/_/2024, dated 20.02.2024 appointing committee members to conduct the Jatara/Festival of Sri Sammakka Saralamma Temple, Mulkapally from 21.02.2024 to 24.02.2024 as illegal null void arbitrary against the principles of natural justice and quash the same and further issue a direction to the Respondent No.2 to conduct the Jatara/Festival with the old committee”

3. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioners has been organizing the Sri Sammakka Saralamma Festival/Jathara (hereafter referred at ‘Festival/Jathara’) since 1977. Learned Senior counsel further submits that said festival is conducted at petitioners’ family land i.e., Sri Chaduvu Anna Reddy and his brother i.e., Sri Chaduvu Raji Reddy and draws attention of this Court to the land certificate, dated 16.07.1999 issued by the Mandal Revenue Officer, Mogullapally Mandal, wherein at Sy No.123 to an extent of 4-09 which is in the name of the Sri Chaduvu Raji Reddy, the brother of Sri Chaduvu Anna Reddy-petitioner No.1 herein, and also draw attention to the proceeding Rc.No.C/440/2002, dated 12.02.2002, issued by the Assistant Commissioner, Endowment Department that earlier the petitioners were appointed as members of Festival committee to said Festival/Jathara for the period from 08.02.2002 to 06.03.2002, since then, the same committee members were continuing to organize the Festival/Jathara till last year. As matter stood, all of the sudden, respondent No.2 issued proceeding bearing Rc.No.G2/_2024, dated 20.02.2024 and appointed the unofficial respondent Nos.5 to 16, as the festival committee members for the Sammakka Saralamma Temple, Mulkapally Village which is stated to be held from 21.02.2024 to 24.02.2024 at Sai Sammakka Saralamma Temple Mulkapally Village. Aggrieved by the said proceeding dated 20.02.2024, this writ petition is filed.

4. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioners further submits that said impugned proceeding, dated 20.02.2024 was issued without notice to the existing committee, which is creating lot of unrest at the festival site and pray this Court to allow petitioner Nos.1 to 3 as the members to the newly constituted festival committee i.e., members appointed through Rc.No.G2/ _2024, dated 20.02.2024.

5. Learned Government Pleader for Endowments submitted that petitioners has filed this Writ petition at the eleventh hour and further submits that the Festival/Jathara will be concluded tomorrow i.e., on 24.02.2024, however, the learned Government Pleader has not disputed the fact that the Festival/Jathara is being conducted on the petitioners’ land and acceded that Petitioner Nos.1 to 3 may be permitted to become the members of the ongoing committee for the present Festival/Jathara only.

6. Heard both sides.

7. In view of the submission made by both the learned counsel on either side and the fact that Festival/ Jathara is being organized for the past many years by the petitioners herein on their land and Festival/Jathara will be concluded by 24.02.2024, hence, this Court deem it fit to include petitioner Nos.1 to 3 as the members to the exiting festival committee that was appointed vide Rc.No.G2/_2024, dated 20.02.2024 for this year Festival/Jathara only. However, it is made clear that the petitioner Nos.1 to 3 and all the other existing members shall conclude the Festival/Jathara in all fairness and peaceful manner without causing any trouble to the devotes attending in the Jathara.

8. Learned Government Pleader for Endowment is directed to communicate this order to the respondent aut