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A.Velusamy v. The District Collector

Madras HC14 Jul 2025WP(MD)/18972/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court, Madurai Bench; W.P(MD)No.18972 of 2025; decided 14.07.2025 by S.M. Subramaniam J. with Dr. Justice A.D. Maria Clete on the bench. Petitioner A. Velusamy sought mandamus against revenue, police and panchayat authorities of Ramanathapuram District for permission to install a statue of King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar pursuant to his representation dated 24.06.2025. The Court held that statue installation is a statutory/administrative matter for the State authorities, not for judicial adjudication by way of routine mandamus, and disposed of the petition with no order as to costs. Keywords: statue installation permission, writ of mandamus, Article 226, administrative function of State, Ramanathapuram.

What did the court decide?

No mandamus issued; the writ petition was disposed of with observations and there is no order as to costs.

A.Velusamy Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No mandamus issued; the writ petition was disposed of with observations and there is no order as to costs.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the Court should issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to grant permission for installation of the statue of Tamil Perumpattan - King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar in Survey No.65/1A1 in Patta No.1047, Kusavankudi, Ramanathapuram District, on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 24.06.2025.

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Court's answer

Installation of statues is governed by the statute and rules in force; the Court cannot run the administration by granting permission to install statues. Granting such permission is the administrative function of the State authorities, who must make all assessments before granting it, and it cannot be a routine affair since it may create issues in local areas which the authorities are bound to consider.

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Ratio / Principle

The Court cannot adjudicate issues of this kind; the authorities have to look into the matter themselves if the application appears to be genuine. On these observations the writ petition was disposed of.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus to direct the District Collector, RDO, Tahsildar, police officials and the Executive Officer, Kuyavankudi Panchayat, Ramanathapuram District, to grant permission for installation of a statue of Tamil Perumpattan - King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar in Survey No.65/1A1 in Patta No.1047, Kusavankudi, on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 24.06.2025. Held (S.M. Subramaniam, J.): installation of statues is governed by the statute and rules in force; the Court cannot run the administration by granting permission to install statues; granting such permission is the administrative function of the State authorities, requires due assessment of likely local issues, and cannot be a routine affair; the Court cannot adjudicate such issues, which the authorities must examine if the application appears genuine. Writ petition disposed of. No order as to costs.

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W.P(MD)No.18972 of 2025

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 14.07.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE

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W.P(MD)No.18972 of 2025

A.Velusamy

... Petitioner

The District Collector, District Collector Office, Ramanathapuram District.

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The Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the RDO, Ramanathapuram District.

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The Tahsildar, Tahsildar Office, Ramanathapuram District.

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The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District.

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The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District.

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The Inspector of Police,

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P(MD)No.18972 of 2025

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Kenikarai Police Station, Ramanathapuram District.

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The Executive Officer, Kuyavankudi Panchayat, Ramanathapuram District. ... Respondents

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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 for the installation of the statue of Tamil Perumpattan - King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar in Survey No.65/1A1 in Patta No.1047, Kusavankudi, Ramanathapuram District on the basis of petitioner representation dated 24.06.2025.

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For Petitioner : Mr.Vishnu J,

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For Respondent : Mr.J.Ashok (R1-R3) Additional Government Pleader

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: Mr.T.Senthil Kumar (R4-R6) Additional Public Prosecutor

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: Mr.M.Sarangan (R7) Additional Government Pleader

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P(MD)No.18972 of 2025

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O R D E R

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[Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.]

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The relief sought for in the present writ petition is to direct the respondents to grant permission for installation of the statue of Tamil Perumpattan - King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar in Survey No.65/1A1 in Patta No.1047, Kusavankudi, Ramanathapuram District on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 24.06.2025.

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2.Installation of statue is governed by the statute and rules in force. Court cannot run the administration by granting permission to install statues. It is the administrative function of the State authorities and the permission is to be granted making all assessments and it cannot be a routine affair. Granting permission for installation of statue may create lot of issues in the local areas and the authorities are bound to consider all these aspects. However, Court cannot adjudicate these kind of issues and the authorities have to look into the same, if the application appears to be genuine.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P(MD)No.18972 of 2025

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3.With these observations, the writ petition stands disposed of.

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There shall be no order as to costs.

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[S.M.S., J.] [A.D.M.C., J.] 14.07.2025