J.Sudalakani Vs The Director — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

J.Sudalakani Vs The Director — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Both writ petitions disposed of with no costs. The interim arrangement (all three groups celebrating on allotted dates with a fresh three-keyed lock, lock cost borne by Sudalaikani) is to operate every year until a proper scheme is formulated in the pending suit; the suit to be decided independently and uninfluenced by this order. Monetary quantum of the lock cost is not quantified in the judgment.

Issue for consideration

Entitlement as between the three competing groups (Sudalaikani, Sella Mariappan and Thirupathi) to celebrate the temple festival at Semapudur Arulmighu Sri Periandavar Madasamy Thirukovil and the arrangements for its conduct. +1 more

Court's answer

Deprivation of a group in the previous year cannot be a ground to deprive any group from celebrating the festival in the current year; all the groups are equally entitled to celebrate.

Ratio / Principle

All three groups were permitted to celebrate the festival; a fresh lock purchased through the Tahsildar (at Sudalaikani's cost) was to contain three keys with one key handed to each group, and celebration dates were allotted sequentially - Sudalaikani group 17.02.2026 to 03.03.2026, Sella Mariappan group 04.03.2026 to 09.03.2026, Thirupathi group 10.03.2026 to 15.03.2026.

Key takeaways

The parties shall celebrate the festival every year as per the interim order until a proper scheme is formulated in the pending suit.ratio¶57
The pending suit shall be decided independently on the documents and evidence and uninfluenced by the present order of this Court.ratio¶57

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Temple festival - rival devotee groups - three groups (Sudalaikani, Sella Mariappan and Thirupathi) claiming the right to conduct the festival at Semapudur Arulmighu Sri Periandavar Madasamy Thirukovil, Ettayapuram Taluk, Thoothukudi District. By interim order dated 13.02.2026 the Court permitted all three groups to celebrate on sequential dates, directed the Tahsildar to provide a fresh lock containing three keys (one to each group, cost paid by Sudalaikani), and held that deprivation of a group in the previous year was no ground to exclude it, all groups being equally entitled. Compliance was reported and the festival passed off peacefully. Final direction: the groups shall celebrate the festival every year as per the interim schedule until a proper scheme is formulated in the pending civil suit, which is to be decided independently on documents and evidence, uninfluenced by this order. Writ petitions disposed of; no costs. (Coram: S. Srimathy, J.; reserved 27.02.2026; pronounced 30.04.2026.)

WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

Reserved on: 27.02.2026

Pronounced on: 30.04.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY

WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

J.Sudalakani ... Petitioner

Vs

The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thoothukudi District.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District..

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District.

The Tahsildar, Office of the Tahsildar, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District.

Inspector of Police, Koppampatti Police Station, Thoothukudi District..

S.Thirupathy

Sella Mariyappan ... Respondents

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WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 4^th and 5^th respondents to guide the temple festival in Semapudur Arulmighu Sri Periandavar Madasamy Thirukovil, Ettayapuram Taluk, Thoothukudi District with 5th respondent Police protection for three days festival held from 24.02.2026 to 26.02.2026 on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 03.01.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr. K.Karansingh For Respondents : Mr.A.S. Abul Kalaam Azad, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R3 and R5 Mr.P.Thambidurai Government Advocate for R1, R2 and R4 Mr.Ramesh Mahadev for R6 Mr.S.Balamurugan for R7

WP Crl.(MD).No.585 of 2026:

Chella Mariappan ... Petitioner

Vs 1. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thoothukudi District.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District..

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District.

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WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

The Tahsildar, Office of the Tahsildar, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District.

Inspector of Police, Koppampatti Police Station, Thoothukudi District..

S.Thirupathy ... Respondents

PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1,3 and 4 to permit and facilitate the petitioner's group headed by petitioner to conduct the "Masi Kodai Vizha" at Semapudur Arulmighu Sri Periandavar Madasamy Thirukovil, Ettayapuram Taluk, Thoothukudi District from 13.03.2026 to 15.03.2026 and for consequential 8^th day pongal on 20.03.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Balamurugan For Respondents : Mr.A.S. Abul Kalaam Azad, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R3 and R5 Mr.P.Thambidurai Government Advocate for R1, R2 and R4 Mr.Ramesh Mahadev for R6

COMMON ORDER

Since both the petitions in WP Crl.(MD).No.152 of 2026 and WP Crl.

(MD).No.585 of 2026 are raising same and similar issues, both we taken together and common order is passed.

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WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

2.(i) WP Crl.(MD).No.152 of 2026 Petition has been filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 4^th and 5^th respondents to guide the temple festival in Semapudur Arulmighu Sri Periandavar Madasamy Thirukovil, Ettayapuram Taluk, Thoothukudi District, with 5^th respondent Police protection for three days festival held from 24.02.2026 to 26.02.2026 on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 03.01.2026.

2.(ii) WP Crl.(MD).No.585 of 2026 has been filed for issuance of a Writ

of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1, 3 and 4 to permit and facilitate the petitioner's group headed by petitioner to conduct the "Masi Kodai Vizha" at Semapudur Arulmighu Sri Periandavar Madasamy Thirukovil, Ettayapuram Taluk, Thoothukudi District from 13.03.2026 to 15.03.2026 and for consequential 8^th day pongal on 20.03.2026.

This Court has considered the issue and passed an interim order, dated

13.02.2026 and the same is extracted hereunder:

"2. Originally, there were two groups, namely Sella Mariappan and Thirupathi, and each group was having two keys of the temple. Subsequently, Sudalaikani and Madasamy split from the Sella Mariappan group, and now there are three groups. All the three groups claim the right to celebrate the temple festival. The contention of Sella Mariappan is that they were deprived of celebrating the festival in the

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WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

previous year by Thirupathi cannot be accepted. The alleged deprivation in the previous year cannot be a ground to deprive any group from celebrating the festival this year. All the groups are equally entitled to celebrate.

3. Therefore, this Court directs that all the three groups shall be

permitted to celebrate the festival. The Tahsildar concerned is directed to purchase a fresh lock, and the cost shall be paid by Sudalaikani. The lock shall contain three keys, and one key shall be handed over to each of the three groups. The celebration shall be conducted by the parties on the following dates:

1. Sudalaikani group shall celebrate the festival from 17.02.2026 to 03.03.2026.

2. Sella Mariappan group shall celebrate the festival from 04.03.2026 to 09.03.2026.

3. Thirupathi group shall celebrate the festival from 10.03.2026 to 15.03.2026."

It is reported that the above said interim order was complied with. The festival was conducted in peaceful manner.

Therefore, this Court is of the considered opinion that the parties shall celebrate the festival every year as per the above said order until a proper scheme is formulated in the pending suit. The suit shall be decided independently based on the documents and evidence and uninfluenced by the

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WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

present order of this Court.

With the above said observations, the writ petitions are disposed of. No costs.

30.04.2026

TMG Index : yes / no Internet : yes / no TO

The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thoothukudi District.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District.

The Tahsildar, Office of the Tahsildar, Kovilpatty, Thoothukudi District.

Inspector of Police, Koppampatti Police Station, Thoothukudi District.

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WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

S.SRIMATHY,J

TMG

ORDER IN WP CRL.(MD). Nos.152 and 585 of 2026

Date: 30.04.2026

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