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

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

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition allowed with directions: (i) petitioner to apply afresh for festival permission after completing temple reconstruction, to be considered by the respondents; (ii) respondents 1 and 2 to consider and grant permission for Annadhanam on 01.08.2025 alone for this year, permission otherwise available for all Fridays of every month; (iii) Annadhanam only from the petitioner's own funds, with strict prohibition on collecting money from any person; (iv) any request for police protection to be made by application to the 3rd respondent and considered in accordance with law. No costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether Respondents 1 to 3 should be directed to take appropriate action to permit the petitioner to worship the deity and offer annathanam on 25.07.2025 and on some Fridays every month, pursuant to his representation dated 17.07.2025, so as to avoid a law and order problem. +1 more

Court's answer

If the petitioner requires police protection, he must apply to the 3rd respondent (Inspector of Police, Melavalavu Police Station), whose application shall be considered in accordance with law, if necessary.

Ratio / Principle

On the festival/worship limb, the Court directed the petitioner to submit an application seeking permission to conduct the festival only after completing the reconstruction of the temple (the Government having stated the temple does not exist), and on receipt of such application the respondents shall consider and pass orders.

Key takeaways

On Annadhanam, the Court directed that permission be granted for all Fridays of every month, but for the current year alone the petitioner is permitted to provide Annadhanam only on 01.08.2025.ratio¶31
Respondents 1 and 2 are directed to consider the petitioner's request and grant permission for Annadhanam on 01.08.2025 alone.ratio¶31
The petitioner shall provide Annadhanam strictly from his own funds and is prohibited from collecting money from any person, consistent with his undertaking affidavit.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Mandamus under Article 226 seeking permission to worship a village deity and offer annathanam on 25.07.2025 and on Fridays, based on a representation dated 17.07.2025. Held: (a) as the Government stated the temple does not exist, the petitioner must first reconstruct it and then apply for festival permission, which the respondents shall consider; (b) permission for Annadhanam is granted for all Fridays of every month, but for the current year only on 01.08.2025, with respondents 1 and 2 directed to consider and grant the same; (c) the petitioner, who filed an undertaking affidavit, must fund the Annadhanam himself and is strictly barred from collecting money from any person; (d) police protection, if needed, is to be sought by application to the Inspector of Police, Melavalavu Police Station, to be considered in accordance with law. Writ petition allowed. No costs.

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 24.07.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY

W.P(MD)No.19953 of 2025

M.Ramaraj

... Petitioner

Vs.

The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

The Tahsildar, Melur Taluk, Madurai District.

The Inspector of Police, Melavalavu Police Station, Madurai District.

K.Rajendran

Vellachamy

Perumal

... Respondents

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PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue of Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents 1 to 3 to take appropriate action for worship the deity and offering annathanam on 25.07.2025 and on some Fridays on every month by the petitioner based on the petitioner's representation dated 17.07.2025 to avoid law and order problem and pass an order within a stipulated time which may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Anand

For Respondents : Mr.K.S.Selva Ganesan, Additional Government Pleader, for-1 & R-2

M/s.M.Aasha, Government Advocate (Crl. Side), for R-3

ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed for Writ of Mandamus, directing the

Respondents 1 to 3 to take appropriate action to worship the Deity and offering Annathanam on 25.07.2025 and on some Fridays on every month by the petitioner based on the petitioner's representation dated 17.07.2025.

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2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the temple is in existence for a long time and festivals are usually conducted in the Tamil month of Vaigasi. However, the festival could not be conducted this year. Therefore, the petitioner seeks permission to conduct the festival in the Tamil month of Aadi. Further the petitioner seeks to grant permission for doing Annadhanam on every Friday.

On instructions, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for respondents 1 and 2 submitted that the temple does not exist at all. For which, the petitioner replied that the temple ought to be reconstructed and then the festival would be conducted. This Court is directing the petitioner to submit application seeking permission to conduct festival after completing the reconstruction. On receipt of such application the respondents shall consider and pass orders.

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4. As far as the permission to do Annadhanam is concerned, this Court directing to grant permission for all Fridays of every month. However, for this year alone, the petitioner is permitted to provide Annadhanam on 01.08.2025. Therefore, the respondents 1 and 2 are directed to consider the request of the petitioner and grant permission for Annadhanam on 01.08.2025 alone. It is made clear that the petitioner shall not collect any money from anyone. An undertaking affidavit to that effect has been filed by the petitioner, and the relevant portion is extracted hereunder:

“I am ready to workship and provide veg annathanam to devotees in the said temple. Therefore, I undertake to provide annathanam to the said temple in my village without collecting any tax from my native villagers or devotees and to provide veg annathanam from my own money. There is no ulterior motive in doing this annathanam. I would like to give annathanam only considering my family as well as welfare of my partners. Hence, I would like to worship the deity and provide this vegetarian annathanam on 01.08.2025.”

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Accordingly, the petitioner is directed to provide Annadhanam using his own funds. He is strictly prohibited from collecting money from any person. If the petitioner requires police protection, he shall submit an application to the 3rd respondent the same shall be considered in accordance with law, if

necessary.

With these directions, this writ petition is allowed. No Costs.

Index : Yes / No 24.07.2025 Internet : Yes KSA

Note : Issue a copy of order on 30.07.2025

To

The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

The Tahsildar, Melur Taluk, Madurai District.

The Inspector of Police, Melavalavu Police Station, Madurai District.

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S.SRIMATHY, J

KSA

Order made in W.P(MD)No.19953 of 2025

24.07.2025

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