Disposed¶27

R.U.Sharath Chandran v. Jose Vayalil

Madras HC10 Jul 2026CONT P(MD)/1577/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Contempt petition; Section 11 Contempt of Courts Act; willful and wanton disobedience; order dated 28.11.2023 in W.M.P.(MD) No.24104 of 2023 in W.P.(MD)No.27993 of 2023; undertaking recorded; prior approval of District Collector not obtained; petition mentioned place not to be used for public religious worship; respondents appeared in person; contempt petition closed without punishment; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; G.R. Swaminathan J.; decided 10.07.2026.

What did the court decide?

Contempt petition closed, with the respondents' undertaking recorded; no punitive sanction for contempt imposed. ¶27

R.U.Sharath Chandran Vs Jose Vayalil — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2026)

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CONT.P.(MD)No.1577 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 10.07.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

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Cont.P.(MD)No.1577 of 2026 in W.M.P.(MD)No.24014 of 2023 in W.P.(MD)No.27993 of 2023

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R.U.Sharath Chandran ... Petitioner

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Vs.

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1.Jose Vayalil, The Parish Priest, R.C. Holy Cross Church, Kallampotrai, Maalaicode, Kanyakumari District.

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2.Kanagaraj, S/o. Muthaiyan, Elluvilai Veedu, Maalaicode, Kanyakumari District.

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3.Jayasingh, S/o. Chandra Bose, Mullaicheri Nadai, Maalaicode, Kanyakumari District.

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1/6

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

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CONT.P.(MD)No.1577 of 2026

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4.Selvan, S/o. Kumaraswamy, Marankattu Vilai, Kalampotrai, Maalaicode, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents

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Prayer: Contempt petition is filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, to punish the contemnors/respondents herein for their willful and wanton disobedience of the order passed by this Court in W.M.P.(MD) No.24104 of 2023 in W.P.(MD)No.27993 of 2023 dated 28.11.2023.

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For Petitioner : Mr.C.Koshore For Respondents : Mr.A.Bala Krishnan

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O R D E R

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All the contemnors are present in person. Shri.Jose Vayalil

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states that he has been transferred to Kollancode and that he is not the incumbent parish priest.

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2.Be that as it may, out of respect for the Court summon, he has chosen to appear. We appreciate the gesture shown by the first

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2/6

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

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CONT.P.(MD)No.1577 of 2026

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respondent herein. The respondents 2 to 4 are members of the local church. On instructions, all the four of them inform the Court that since prior approval from the District Collector has not been obtained, the petition mentioned place will not be used as a place for public religious worship.

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3.Recording the said undertaking given before this Court, this

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contempt petition is closed.

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10.07.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias

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3/6

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

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CONT.P.(MD)No.1577 of 2026