(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records of the order passed by the first respondent in I.A.No.28/2026 in O.A.No.17/2024 dated 16.04.2026 and quash the same as arbitrary and illegal.)

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to put receipt for upcoming Vandiyur Mandagapadi festival 2026 which is patrimonial interest of the petitioners.)

Common Order

1. These two writ petitions relate to the same Mandagapadi and are therefore taken up together and disposed of by this common order.

2. The dispute is within the family, and despite the matter having been referred to mediation, it could not be amicably resolved.

3. The petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.12312 of 2026, namely, Periyannan Poosari, is aggrieved that he has been receiving the first honour for more than 30 years and feels let down by the last-minute order passed by the Joint Commissioner in I.A.No.28 of 2026 in O.A.No.17 of 2024.

4. On the other hand, the mother of the said petitioner, V.Ranjitham, along with her younger son, V.Madhavan, has filed W.P.(MD)No.13485 of 2026 seeking a direction to issue a receipt and to grant her all first rights in view of the order passed by the Joint Commissioner.

5. Though rival contentions have been raised, this Court is not in a position to decide the merits of the issue, even for the temporary purpose of conducting the Mandagapadi this year, due to the sheer efflux of time. The Mandagapadi is scheduled to take place on 01.05.2026, and today is already 29.04.2026. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to interfere with the order passed in I.A.No. 28 of 2026 in O.A.No.17 of 2024. However, while the mother shall receive the first honour, the receipt shall be issued in the name of the father, namely, Venkatraman Poosari and family.

6. The conduct of the Mandagapadi in a particular manner this year shall not create any equitable right in favour of any member of the family. It shall be deemed that all three children of the family have received the first honour, even though, for all practical purposes, the mother physically receives it. For the purpose of pleading rights in O.A.No.17 of 2024 or in any other proceedings, it shall be deemed that the mother received the first honour on behalf of all three children, and no equitable right shall be claimed by any party based on this arrangement.

7. Further, when the Deity arrives, no child shall stand in close proximity to the mother so as to create an impression of exclusion of the others. The mother alone shall stand and receive the first honour, and all the children shall be treated equally in that regard.

8. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of Periyannan Poosari submitted that he is already suffering from heart disease and that this situation may cause him considerable distress.

9. However, since this Court has declared that all three children shall be deemed to have received the first honour, Periyannan Poosari need not be concerned. The interim order passed by the Joint Commissioner is not being interfered with solely due to lack of time, and it shall remain subject to the above observations. No party shall be entitled to claim any equitable right on that basis. The Mandagapadi shall be conducted peacefully, without any law and order issues, during the presence of the Deity.

10. O.A.No.17 of 2024 shall be disposed of as previously directed by this Court, and the parties shall thereafter be governed by the rights determined therein.

11. All other clauses in the order of the Joint Commissioner shall remain undisturbed.

12. The learned counsel for the Temple shall inform the authorities accordingly so that the Mandagapadi can be conducted this year without awaiting a copy of this order.

13. These writ petitions are disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.