K. BOSE Vs. TAHSILDAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) WP(MD)No. 15784 of 2021 had been filed by K.Bose, claiming to be the Secretary of Kazhanivasal Adi Dravida Community at Karaikudi in Sivagangai District, seeking a Declaration that a decision taken to lock and seal the Thittumalai Kaliamman Temple and prevent even daily Poojas from being conducted in the Peace Committee Meeting on21/8/2021 by the 1st respondent, Tashildar, Karaikudi, as null and void.

(2.) W.P(MD)No. 19922 of 2021 had been filed by K.Yoganathan, claiming to be the Poojari of Thittumalai Kaliamman Temple, seeking a Mandamus, directing the respondents to permit him to continue as Poojari and perform daily Poojas to the Goddess.

(3.) In the affidavits filed in support of both the Writ Petitions, it had been claimed that Goddess Thittumalai Kaliamman appeared in the dream of the forefathers of the Writ Petitioners nearly more than 300 years back, and the Deity was identified and recovered from the bushes in the lands at Kazhanivasal Village. The petitioners, who both belong to Adi Dravida Community further claim right to do the Poojas for the Deity, and more particularly, the petitioner in W.P(MD)No. 19922 of 2021 has claimed hereditary rights to do the Poojas. Both the Writ Petitioners further claim that the land in S.No. 186/1 where the Temple is situated and also a larger area of land were bestowed on their forefather, Azhagan by the Ramanathapuram Samasthanam as Inam. They furtherclaim that two Seppu Pattayams, now in the custody of the Government evidence this fact. They complain interference with the exclusive right of the Adi Dravida Community to perform Poojas.