Paraman v. The District Collector,

ORDER The petitioner, a resident of Thullukkuttinayakkanur Village, has approached this Court seeking to restrain the respondents 5 to 12 from installing an idol of Lord Ramar in the land comprised in S.No.447/25, Old Sub-division No.35-10 Part P, Thullukkuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District.

¶2According to the petitioner, the said Temple is situated on Government Poramboke land. Reference is made to the 'A' Register, wherein the land comprised in S.No.447/25 is classified as Government Natham Poramboke.

¶3It is submitted that the private respondents herein are excluding the petitioner and other villagers from the affairs of the Temple and, therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 20.07.2026 to the second respondent/Revenue Divisional Officer. However, the said representation has not evoked any response. Page4 of 8

¶4The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the official respondents submits that the Temple is outside the purview of the H.R. & C.E. Department and that, based on the representations submitted by the petitioner and the private respondents, a Peace Committee Meeting was held on

04.08.2026 in connection with the Kumbabhishekam of the said Temple, which is scheduled to be held on 23.08.2026, wherein the following decision was taken:- Page5 of 8

¶5The learned counsel appearing for the private respondents submits that the Temple has been in existence for a very long period and is of considerable antiquity. It is further submitted that the petitioner belongs to the Surankoduthan Pangaligal, consisting of 25 families, and that their family deity [Kulatheivam] is Veilkatha Amman, situated at Pearali Village, Virudhunagar District. It is submitted that they are paying the tax [Thalaikattu Vari] and participating in the festivals of the said Temple, particularly, the Mahasivarathri festival.

¶6It is submitted that, insofar as the private respondents are concerned, they belong to the Kenthampatti Pangaligal Vagayara, consisting of 150 families, who offer prayers to the said Temple as their family deity and have a Kovil Veedu.

¶7It is further submitted that, in connection with the proposed Kumbabhishekam, the old idols of Ramar and Alagunatchi Amman are proposed to be replaced and that the petitioner is attempting to stall the proceedings by contending that he should also be permitted to contribute towards the tax [Thalaikattu Vari].

¶8The learned counsel for the private respondents has no objection to the petitioner making donations. However, it is submitted that the tax [Thalaikattu Vari] is to be confined to the 150 families belonging to various Villages in Madurai District. Page6 of 8

¶9It is further submitted that the devotees of the said Temple, namely, the said 150 families, had migrated from Kenthampatti Village near T.Kallupatti, Madurai District, and that the said Temple belongs exclusively to the Kenthampatti Pangaligal.

¶10Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the official respondents and the learned counsel appearing for the private respondents, I am of the view that the proposed Kumbabhishekam scheduled to be held on 23.08.2026 cannot be allowed to be jeopardised on account of the dispute raised by the petitioner. If the petitioner claims any right to contribute towards the tax [Thalaikattu Vari] and to participate in the management of the said Temple, it is open to the petitioner to work out his remedy before the competent Civil Court. However, no Idol shall be installed without proper determination of the rights of the devotees before an appropriate forum.

¶11The Writ Petition stands disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to make donations to the Management of the Temple in connection with the Temple festival. There shall be no order as to costs. 19-08-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order smn2 Note:- Issue order copy on 21.08.2026. Page7 of 8 To

¶1The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

¶2The Revenue Divisional Officer, Usilampatti Division, Usilampatti, Madurai District.

¶3The Tahsildar, Peraiyur Taluk, Peraiyur, Madurai District.

¶4The Inspector of Police, M.Kallupatti Police Station, Madurai District. Page8 of 8

C.SARAVANAN, J. smn2 19-08-2026

Page1 of 8 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 19-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C. SARAVANAN Paraman S/o.Marimuppar, Thullukkuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai. 2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Usilampatti Division, Usilampatti, Madurai District. 3. The Tahsildar, Peraiyur Taluk, Peraiyur, Madurai District. 4. The Inspector of Police, M.Kallupatti Police Station, Madurai District. 5. Rajasankar, S/o.Perumal Mooppar, Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. 6. Jothi, S/o.Sangili, Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. 7. Senthilkumar, S/o.Murugan, Page2 of 8 Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. 8. Jeyakkodi S/o.Paraman, Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. 9. Murugan, S/o Chinnasangili, Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. 10.Veluchami S/o.Mookkan, Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. 11.Sathiyaraj S/o.Sankaran, Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. 12.Selvam, S/o.Perumal, Residing at Thullukuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of MANDAMUS, to directing the 2nd respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's representation dated 31.07.2026 and to not permit the installation of the Ramar idol by the respondents 5 to 12 on the Natham Poramboke land in Survey No. 447/25, Old Sub-division No. 35-10 Part P, Thullukkuttinayakkanur Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District, within the time stipulated by this Hon'ble Court, and to pass such further or other orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice. Page3 of 8 For Petitioner(s): Mr.A.Manikandan For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Venkatesh Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3 Mr.P.Vetrivel Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for R4 Mr.T.Vadivelan for R5 to R12