VELMURUGAN Vs. COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Writ Petition filed by one Velmurugan, S/o Chidambaranathan, residing at No.13/86, Eesanthangu, Muttom Post, Kanyakumari District, is in the nature of Mandamus, seeking a direction against the sixth to eighth respondents, viz., The Revenue Divisional Officer, Nagercoil Division, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, the Inspector of Police, Vellichandhai Police Station, Kanyakumari District and the Executive Officer, Arulmigu Easwari Batrakali Amman Temple, Eeasanthangu, Muttom Post in Kanyakumari District, to permit the petitioner apart from the general public to offer their offerings such as silk, gold and silver ornaments, paddy, jaggery, fruits, flowers and garlands, during the ensuing Panguni festival, said to be scheduled on 16.03.2020, 17.03.2020 and 18.03.2020.

(2.) In view of the nature of relief sought for in this Writ Petition and in particular, since there has been allegations by the petitioner against the ninth respondent and the learned counsel appearing for the ninth respondent, who had taken notice, had also made few allegations against the conduct of the petitioner, it may not be appropriate on my part to examine all those allegations. It is pointed out that the petitioner had come to the adverse notice of the Temple Authorities, in view of his earlier conduct by encroaching on two other properties of the Temple. It is stated that this led to registration of the First Information Report as against the petitioner and also a civil suit being instituted, in which the petitioner is said to have suffered a decree and the said matter is now pending before this Court at the Second Appeal stage. These are all the facts stated.

(3.) At any rate, the learned counsel appearing for the eighth respondent / the Executive Officer of the Temple, stated that there has never been any restriction of any devotee to offer their offerings to the diety. As stated above, during the ensuing Panguni Festival, in order to maintain peace and in order to ensure that peace is also prevalent among the general public and also in order to maintain harmony among the devotees, the following directions are issued: