Allowed¶21

N.Jeeva v. The Superintendent of Police

Madras HC10 Jun 2026WP Crl.(MD)/3022/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Article 226 writ of mandamus; permission and police protection for temple cultural programme (Adal Padal); Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Temple festival, Kamatchipuram, Budhalur Taluk, Thanjavur District; DGP Tamil Nadu circulars Rc.No.159539/Crime. 4(3)/2018 and Rc.007301/GenlI(1)/2019; conditions on timing (07.00 p.m.-10.00 p.m.), decency, modest attire, no double-meaning songs, no alcohol, no political/religious/caste content, no banners; organisers and temple committee liable to legal action including arrest on violation; police empowered to stop overrun; W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3022 of 2026; decision 10.06.2026.

What did the court decide?

Permission granted to conduct the Cultural Programme (Adal Padal) on 21.06.2026 from 07.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. subject to conditions (a) to (n); no costs; connected Miscellaneous Petition closed. ¶21

N.Jeeva Vs The Superintendent of Police — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Permission granted to conduct the Cultural Programme (Adal Padal) on 21.06.2026 from 07.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. subject to conditions (a) to (n); no costs; connected Miscellaneous Petition closed.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner should be granted permission and adequate police protection to conduct the Cultural Programme (Adal Padal) scheduled for 21.06.2026 in connection with the festival of Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Temple, Kamatchipuram, Thanjavur District.

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Court's answer

The writ petition is allowed, with permission granted subject to enumerated conditions (a) to (n), in view of the DGP circulars governing consideration of applications for cultural programmes.

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Ratio / Principle

The petitioner is permitted to conduct the Adal Padal program on 21.06.2026 from 07.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. at Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Temple, Kamatchipuram, Pudhukudi Post, Budhalur Taluk, Thanjavur District.

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Key takeaways

Modest-attire and decency conditions are imposed on the programme, and any violation shall result in legal action, including arrest of the organisers and all members of the temple committee.ratio¶44
The police is empowered to stop the programme if it exceeds beyond the permitted time.ratio¶45

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madurai Bench of Madras High Court (L. Victoria Gowri, J.) allowed a Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking permission and police protection for conducting a Cultural Programme (Adal Padal) on 21.06.2026 in connection with the festival of Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Temple, Kamatchipuram, Budhalur Taluk, Thanjavur District. Acting in view of two Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu circulars (Rc.No.159539/Crime. 4(3)/2018, signed 31.10.2018, and Rc.007301/GenlI(1)/2019, dated 09.04.2019) instructing Inspectors of Police on consideration of applications for cultural programmes, the Court permitted the programme from 07.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. subject to conditions: relevance to the temple/festival; no obscene display or dance; women not depicted in an obscene or undignified manner; music suited to temple precincts with no double-meaning songs; no alcohol or intoxicants; no political, religious or caste tone; no digital banners/placards on roads; no effect on caste, religious or communal harmony; modest attire for dancers without exposure of midriff, thighs, legs or chest, violation attracting legal action including arrest of organisers and temple committee members; police empowerment to stop the programme beyond permitted time; organiser responsibility for untoward incidents; procurement of other requisite permissions; and additional ground-reality conditions by the authority. No costs; connected Miscellaneous Petition closed.

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3022 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 10.06.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3022 of 2026

N.Jeeva

... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Superintendent of Police, The District Superintendent office, Thanjavur District.

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2.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep.by The Inspector of Police, Sengipatti Police Station, Thanjavur District. ... Respondents

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PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to grant permission and provide adequate police protection for conducting the Cultural Programme (Adal Padal) scheduled to be held on 21.06.2026 at 06.30 p.m, in connection with the festival of Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Temple situated at Kamatchipuram, Pudhukudi Post, Budhalur Taluk, Thanjavur District without causing any disturbance to public order based on the petitioner's representation dated 29.05.2026.

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For Petitioner : Mr.P.Pratheesh For Respondents : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy

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Government Advocate (Criminal)

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

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3022 of 2026

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ORDER

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This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to grant permission and provide adequate police protection for conducting the Cultural Programme (Adal Padal) scheduled to be held on 21.06.2026 at 06.30 p.m, in connection with the festival of Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Temple situated at Kamatchipuram, Pudhukudi Post, Budhalur Taluk, Thanjavur District without causing any disturbance to public order based on the petitioner's representation dated 29.05.2026.

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It is brought to the notice of this Court that the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu issued two circulars bearing Rc.No.159539/Crime. 4(3)/2018, signed on 31.10.2018 and Rc.007301/GenlI(1)/2019, dated 09.04.2019, wherein instructions have been given to the Inspectors of Police throughout Tamil Nadu for consideration of applications seeking permission for conducting cultural programme.

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In view of the above, this Writ Petition is allowed on the following conditions:-

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(a) The petitioner is permitted to conduct Adal Padal program on 21.06.2026 from 07.00 p.m., to 10.00 p.m., in Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Temple situated at Kamatchipuram, Pudhukudi Post, Budhalur Taluk,

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

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3022 of 2026

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Thanjavur District.

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(b) The organisers, who shall be the responsible members of the festival committee, shall ensure that only cultural programs having some relevance to the temple or the festival in question would be conducted and there shall not be any obscene display/dance being conducted;

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(d) No women participating in the cultural program would be depicted or

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portrayed in an obscene or undignified manner either in the form of clothing or otherwise;

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(e) The music that shall be used shall be in sync with the precincts of the

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temple and double meaning songs should not be played;

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(f) There shall be no supply of alcohol or any intoxicating material in and

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around the area where cultural program is scheduled to be held;

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(g) None of the songs or dances performed in the said programme shall exhibit any political tone, tenor, or colour, nor shall they relate to or promote any religion, community, or caste.

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(h) Organizers shall not erect any digital banners/placards on either side

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of the arterial roads, platforms, walkways/major roads and any other roads;

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(i) the function should not affect caste, religious or communal harmony

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and shall be conducted without any discrimination;

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

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3022 of 2026

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(j) The attire of the dancers performing in the said programme should be

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modest and does not involve exposure of the midriff, thighs, legs or chest. Any violation of this condition shall result in legal action, including the arrest of the organisers and all members of the temple committee.

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(k) the Police is empowered to stop the programme, if it exceeds beyond the permitted time;

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(l) if any untoward incident takes place, the organizers of the programme be made responsible for the same;

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(m) the organizers shall have to obtain all other required permission from the authorities concerned;

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(n) Any other conditions as the authority concerned consider to impose according to the ground reality.

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In case of violation of any conditions, it is open to the authorities to initiate such action as is required under law and the persons who are the organisers/committee members shall be held responsible. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

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10.06.2026

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NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No gbg Note: Issue order copy on 17.06.2026.

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

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.3022 of 2026

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TO :-