A.Ramasamy v. The District Collector

Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 21-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN WP Crl. No. 2085 of 2026 and W.P. Crl. No.2140 of 2026 and W.P. MP Nos.777 and 778 of 2026 A.Ramasamy S/o.Andi, ..Petitioner(s) in W.P. CRL. No.2085 of 2026 Vs

¶1The District Collector Namakkal District, Namakkal.

¶2The Superintendent of Police, Namakkal District, Namakkal.

¶3The Tahsildar Mohanur Taluk, Mohanur, Namakkal District.

¶4The Inspector of Police, Mohanur Police Station,

¶5Muthusamy S/o.Sappani

¶6Raju S/o.Vaiyapuri

¶7Kandasamy S/o.Andi ..Respondent(s) in W.P. CRL. No.2085 of 2026 Page2 of 8 N.Kanthasamy S/o. of Nallan, ..Petitioner(s) in W.P. CRL. No.2140 of 2026 Vs

¶1The District Collector Namakkal District, Collectorate, Namakkal-637 003.

¶2The Revenue Divisional Officer Namakkal Revenue Division, Namakkal District.

¶3The Tahsildar, Mohanur Taluk, Mohanur, Namakkal District.

¶4The Deputy Superintendent of Police Namakkal Sub Division, Namakkal District.

¶5The Inspector of Police Namakkal Police Station,

¶6The Sub Inspector of Police Mohanur Police Station, Mohanur, Namakkal District.

¶7The Revenue Inspector Valayapatti, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District.

¶8The Village Administrative Officer Arur Village, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District.

¶9Ramasamy, Father name and age not known (Representative, A Party Pangaligal). Muthukappatti, Namakkal District. Page3 of 8

¶10Prabhakaran Father name and age not known, Representative, C Party Pangaligal, Siviyampalayam, Namakkal District.

¶11Ramakrishnan Father name and age not known, Representative D Party Thumbalathar Sambandhigal, Sellipalayam, Namakkal District.

¶12Muthusamy Father name and age not known Representative E Party Valaiyapattiyar Sambandhigal, Valaiyapatti, Namakkal District.

¶13Ramasamy, Father name and age not known, Representative F party Siviyampalayam Sambandhigal, Siviyampalyam, Namakkal District. … ..Respondent(s) in W.P. CRL. No.2140 of 2026 Prayer in W.P. Crl. No.2085 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, Order or Direction in the nature of Mandamus, directing the 4th Respondent to provide adequate police protection to the petitioner and the Kudipattu Pangaligal (agnates) of Eachangalpatti Sri Angala Paramesvari Amman Temple, Arur Village, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District, for the peaceful conduct of the Muppoosai festival scheduled to be held from

23.08.2026 to 26.08.2026, without any interference or obstruction from Respondents 5 to 7, based on the petitioner's representation dated 10.08.2026 and to take all necessary steps to maintain law and order during the said period and pass such further or other orders as this Honble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case, and thus render justice. Page4 of 8 Prayer in W.P. Crl. No.2140 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certorarified Mandamus, Calling for the records relating to the proceeding in Na.Ka.No.5529 of 2026/E1 dated

13.08.2026 passed by the 1st Respondetn and quash the same and consequently direct Respondents 1 to 8 to conduct fresh proceedings and arrange the Pooja/Festival Affairs of Sri Angala Parameswari Amman Temple strictly in accordance with the settlement dated 03.03.2002 and in accordance with law, after affording an effective opportunity of hearing to all consitutent groups and pass such further or other orders as this Honble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case, and thus render Justice. For petitioner in W.P. Crl. No.2085 of 2026 : Mr.M.S. Prem Kumar For petitioner in W.P. Crl. No.2140 of 2026 : Mr.S. Sugendran For Respondents in both W.P.s : Mr.S. Yogaraja Sekar Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) High Court of Madras for official respondents For Respondents 5 to 7 in W.P. Crl. No.2085 of 2026 : Mr.Vengatesh COMMON ORDER There is a temple situated in Eachangalpatti, Arur Village, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District. It is dedicated to Shri Angala Parameswari Amman. Disputes have arisen between several parties as to who should perform poojas, conduct rituals, receive honours, etc. These two writ petitions are fallout of the said dispute. Page5 of 8

¶2Primarily, a dispute as regards the management of a Temple cannot be the subject matter of a writ petition. The Revenue department has made attempts to settle the matter by conducting peace committee meetings. All of them have failed. On account of egoistic clashes between those claiming a right over the Temple, the worshipping public cannot be denied their right to pray to a deity. Under similar circumstances, the Madurai Bench of this Court had directed the District Revenue Officer and the Tahsildar to supervise the conducting of the festival with persons to perform the rituals to be chosen by them (See, Kunnudaiyan v. The District Revenue Officer and Others, W.P.

(MD) No.5844 of 2011 dated 20.03.2012).

¶3As the petitioners in both the writ petitions are not willing to settle the matter, the Tahsildar, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District and the Revenue Divisional Officer, Namakkal Revenue Division, Namakkal District shall ensure that the worship in the said Temple continues and all persons are permitted to participate in the festival. As to who should conduct pooja etc., for the present will be decided by the aforesaid officials. In case, they are disturbed, the jurisdictional police shall give security to the revenue officials to carry out the duties imposed by this Court.

¶4Insofar as the rights claimed by the petitioners and respondents are concerned, the doors of the civil Court are always open for them to go and Page6 of 8 knock upon and get a declaration. This arrangement shall continue till the decree of civil court is passed or any interim arrangement is ordered thereon. These writ petitions are disposed with the aforesaid directions. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 21-08-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VSI-2/tkn To

¶1The District Collector Namakkal District, Namakkal.

¶2The Superintendent of Police, Namakkal District, Namakkal.

¶3The Tahsildar Mohanur Taluk, Mohanur, Namakkal District.

¶4The Inspector of Police, Mohanur Police Station,

¶5The Revenue Divisional Officer Namakkal Revenue Division, Namakkal District.

¶6The Tahsildar, Sohanur Talu, Mohanur, Namakkal District.

¶7The Deputy Superintendent of Police Namakkal Sub Division, Namakkal District. Page7 of 8

¶8The Inspector of Police Namakkal Police Station,

¶9The Sub Inspector of Police Mohanur Police Station, Mohanur, Namakkal District.

¶10The Revenue Inspector Valayapatti, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District.

¶11The Village Administrative Officer Arur Village, Mohanur Taluk, Namakkal District. Page8 of 8

V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN, J. VSI-2 WP Crl. No. 2085 of 2026 and W.P. Crl. No.2140 of 2026 and W.P. MP Nos.777 and 778 of 2026 21-08-2026