1 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated:10.06.2011 Coram: The Honourable Mr.Justice S.RAJESWARAN and The Honourable Mr.Justice G.M.AKBAR ALI Writ Petition (MD) No.5965 of 2011 and M.P.(MD)No.1 of 2011 V.Sangilipandi :Petitioner -vs- 1.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (Administrative) Department, Sivagangai. 2.The Takkar/Executive Officer, Arulmigu Viswanathaswamy Thirukovil, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar District. 3.The Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar. 4.The Sub-Divisional Officer (RDO), Sivakasi. 5.The Tahsilar, Sattur Taluk, Sattur. 6.Ramachandran, S/o.Durairaj 7.Balamurugan, S/o.Velusamy :Respondents Writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing respondents 1 to 5 to consider the representation, dated 24.05.2011, sent by the petitioner and to take appropriate action in the matter of Arulmigu Mariamman Temple at S.No.960/1C in Sakarapandiapuram Village in Sattur Taluk in Virudhunagar District. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Michael Bharathi For Respondents 1 to 6 : Mr.K.Mahendran,Spl.Govt.Pleader. ORDER (Order of the Court was made by S.RAJESWARAN,J) This Public Interest Litigation has been filed by the petitioner for protecting the interest of the people of Kelachathiram Village in Sattur Taluk, Virudhunagar District. According to him, Arulmighu Mariaman Temple situate in Sankarapandiapuram Village is an ancient Temple and it is under the control of the H.R.&C.E. Department. All community people from Melachathiram, Kelachathiram and Naduchathiram villages https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2 used to go and celebrate Pongal festival in the said Temple regularly from time immemorial. 2.While so, the respondents 6 & 7 and their group took control of the Temple illegally and they are acting as if the Temple belongs to them. In the year, 2009, the 6th & 7th respondents and others prevented the people from the three villages from participating in the Pongal festival in the Temple. The complaint given to the H.R.&C.E. Department in this regard was also in vain. This year also the 6th and 7th respondents and others are preventing all the community people from the three villages from participating in the Pongal Festival of the Temple. The representation given by the petitioner to the District Collector complaining about the acts of the 6th and 7th respondents and their men has not yielded any result. Therefore, the above Writ Petition has been filed with the aforesaid prayer to protect and promote the interest of the villagers of community people of the three said villages in so far as worshipping and participating in the Pongal festival in the said Temple is concerned. 3.Mr.K.Mahendran, learned Special Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 5, on instructions, would submit that pursuant to the representations made, there was a peace committee meeting held on 9.6.2011 regarding the celebration of Pongal festival in this Temple before the Revenue Divisional Officer. In that peace committee meeting, the representatives of various community people in and around that temple took part and the petitioner also participated in that meeting. 4.According to the learned Special Government Pleader, a resolution was passed in that peace committee meeting permitting each community to choose a date of their own for their due participation in the Pongal festival, so that all would be satisfied in celebrating the Pongal festival in the said temple on the day chosen by them. The said resolution has been signed by all the persons participated in the meeting and they have also agreed that they would abide by that. The representatives further assured that they would not cause any disturbance or hindrance to the other community in their participation and celebration of the Pongal festival on the appointed day. 5.Learned Special Government Pleader further adds that the petitioner participated in the peace committee meeting and in acceptance of the resolution passed, he has subscribed his signature in the resolution. A copy of the resolution has been produced before this Court. A perusal of the same would make it clear that the representatives have agreed to celebrate the Pongal festival on a chosen day. The petitioner herein, the Tahsildar, Sattur Taluk and other persons who participated in the peace committee meeting all have signed in the resolution. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 3 In view of the resolution passed in the peace committee meeting, the learned Special Government Pleader submits that the Writ Petition may be closed after recording the same. 6.In the light of the above, nothing further remains to be considered in this Writ Petition and the same is to be closed. 7.Accordingly, the Writ Petition is closed. No costs. Connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CO) / TRUE COPY / Sub Assistant Registrar To: 1.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (Administrative) Department, Sivagngai. 2.The Takkar/Executive Officer, Arulmigu Viswanathaswamy Thirukovil, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar District. 3.The Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar. 4.The Sub-Divisional Officer (RDO), Sivakasi. 5.The Tahsilar, Sattur Taluk, Sattur. +1CC to The Special Government Pleader. SR.No.18295. (asvm) RP/24.06.2011/3P/7C. Order in WP(MD)No.5965/2011 & M.P.(MD)No.1 of 2011 Date:10.06.2011 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/