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Mahadhevan v. The District Collector

Constitution of India – Article 226 – Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus

Madras HC6 Feb 2026WP Crl.(MD)/628/2026

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Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Rekla Race permission police protection Madurai; W.P.Crl.(MD) No.628 of 2026; S.Srimathy; certiorarified mandamus Article 226; impugned order Na.Ka.No.03/Keelavalavu PS/2026 dated 01.02.2026 Inspector of Police B2 Keelavalavu Police Station quashed; District Collector appropriate authority; fresh representation two days; temple function Shri Arulmigu Kanchivanam Swami Alayam; Kottanathampatti Kutturavupatti 08.02.2026; writ petition allowed no costs.

What did the court decide?

Impugned order dated 01.02.2026 passed by the third respondent quashed; petitioner permitted to submit a fresh representation with a copy of the order to the first respondent/District Collector, who shall pass appropriate orders within two days of receiving a copy of this order; no costs awarded. ¶24

Mahadhevan Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned order dated 01.02.2026 passed by the third respondent should be quashed, and whether the petitioner is entitled to permission and police protection to conduct a Rekla Race on 08.02.2026 from Kottanathampatti to Kutturavupatti in connection with the Shri Arulmigu Kanchivanam Swami Alayam Temple Function.

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Court's answer

The first respondent (District Collector) is the appropriate authority to consider the petitioner's request for permission and police protection; hence the impugned order passed by the third respondent (Inspector of Police) was beyond the proper channel and was quashed.

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Ratio / Principle

The impugned order dated 01.02.2026 passed by the third respondent is quashed.

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Key takeaways

The petitioner is directed to submit a fresh representation, along with a copy of this order, to the first respondent/District Collector forthwith, and the first respondent shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders within a period of two (2) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.ratio¶23

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Constitution of India - Article 226 - Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus - denial of permission and police protection for conducting Rekla Race on 08.02.2026 from Kottanathampatti to Kutturavupatti in connection with Shri Arulmigu Kanchivanam Swami Alayam Temple Function - impugned order in Na.Ka.No.03/Keelavalavu PS/2026 dated 01.02.2026 passed by the Inspector of Police, B2 Keelavalavu Police Station (third respondent) - Court holds the District Collector, Madurai (first respondent) is the appropriate authority to consider such a request and accordingly quashes the impugned order passed by the police inspector - petitioner, who had already petitioned the District Collector on 27.01.2026, directed to submit a fresh representation with a copy of the order - District Collector to pass appropriate orders within two (2) days of receipt of a copy of the order - writ petition allowed, no costs. Whether permission should ultimately be granted was left to the District Collector's discretion.

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.628 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 06.02.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY

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W.P.Crl.(MD).No.628 of 2026

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Mahadhevan ... Petitioner

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The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

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The Superintendent of Police, Madurai District, Madurai.

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The Inspector of Police, B2 Keelavalavu Police Station, Madurai 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 Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned order in Na.Ka.No.03/Keelavalavu PS/2026, dated 01.02.2026 passed by the 3^rd respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to give permission and police protection to conduct Rekla Race on 08.02.2026 from Kottanathampatti to Kutturavupatti in connection with Shri Arulmigu Kanchivanam Swami Alayam Temple Function.

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

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.628 of 2026

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For Petitioner	: Mr.K.Sathish Kumar
For R-1	: Mr.P.Thambidurai
	Government Advocate
For R-2 & R-3	: Mr.A.S.Abul Kalaam Azad Government Advocate (Crl.side)

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ORDER

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The present Writ Petition has been filed for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to quash the impugned order dated 01.02.2026 and consequently, to direct the respondents to grant permission and provide police protection for conducting the Rekla Race on 08.02.2026 from Kottanathampatti to Kutturavupatti in connection with the temple function of Shri Arulmigu Kanchivanam Swami Alayam.

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The first respondent/District Collector is the appropriate authority to consider the request. Hence, the impugned order dated 01.02.2026 passed by the third respondent is quashed. The petitioner has already submitted a petition before the first respondent on 27.01.2026. Therefore, the petitioner is directed to submit a fresh representation, along with a copy of this order, to the first respondent/District Collector forthwith. The first respondent/District Collector

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

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W.P.Crl.(MD)No.628 of 2026

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shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders within a period of two (2) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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