(Prayer: This petition is filed for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing therespondents herein to grant permission and to provide adequate police protection for conducting the Kabadi Tournament from 15.01.2026 at 7.00 A.M. to 18.01.2026 at 10.00 P.M. in connection the celebration of Pongal Festival in the petitioner's village by considering the representation of the petitioner, dated 24.11.2025.)

1. This petition has been filed to direct the respondents herein to grant permission and to provide adequate police protection for conducting the Kabadi Tournament from 15.01.2026 at 7.00 A.M. to 18.01.2026 at 10.00 P.M., in connection with the celebration of the Pongal Festival in the petitioner’s village, by considering the petitioner’s representation dated 24.11.2025.

2. The contention of the petitioner is that every year a Kabadi Tournament is conducted at Duraisamiyapuram Kalaiyarangam in connection with the celebration of the Pongal Festival, usually held from 15.01.2026 to 18.01.2026. Admittedly, there are two rival groups. The rival group, namely Sathish Kumar, had already filed a Writ Petition in W.P.(MD) No.28529 of 2024, which was considered by this Court by order dated 29.11.2024. By the said order, this Court directed the respondents to consider the representation dated 08.10.2024, following the circular issued by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, in Rc.No.007301/Genl.I(1)/2019, dated 09.04.2019, along with the instructions issued to all Inspectors of Police throughout Tamil Nadu for considering applications seeking permission to conduct such programmes, and permission was accordingly granted.

3. Thereafter, the present petitioner once again submitted a representation and filed W.P.(MD) No.31396 of 2024. This Court, by order dated 03.01.2025, held that Sathish Kumar had approached the Court at the earliest point of time and had already been granted permission to conduct the Kabadi Tournament. Consequently, the petition filed by Bharathraj was dismissed. The relevant portion of the said order is extracted hereunder:

               2. The contention of the petitioner is that the reason cited in the impugned order is that the third respondent who has got nothing to do with the petitioner's village had earlier filed W.P. (MD)No. 28529 of 2024 and this Court by order dated 29.11.2024 had issued a direction to the third respondent therein to consider the third respondent herein's representation dated 08.10.2024, following the Circular of the Director General of Police, Chennai in Rc. 007301/Genl.I(1)/2019 dated 09.04.2019, along with instructions to the Inspectors of Police throughout Tamil Nadu for consideration of the applications seeking permission for conducting a programme. In view of the same, since already third respondent had applied for Kabadi Tournament on the same day, the petitioner's representation has been cancelled. He further submitted that the play ground in which the Kabadi Tournament is conducted is opposite to Immanueal Ground.

               3. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the second respondent, finding that there had been two tournaments on the same day, which may lead to clash and also finding that already third respondent approached this Court in W.P.(MD)No. 28529 of 2024, had rejected the plea of the petitioner. He further submitted that the second respondent would take appropriate decision considering the prevailing law and order situation and the ground reality with regard to the third respondent's petition for which the order is yet to be passed.

               4.Learned Counsel for the third respondent would submit that in this case, the third respondent had already approached this Court in W.P.(MD)No.28529 of 2024 and this Court, by order dated 29.11.2024, had ordered the second respondent Inspector of Police, Sivagiri Police Station, to consider the third respondent's representation following the DGP's circular. Now, the petitioner's petition has been rejected. Hence, there is no possibility of any clash. He further submitted that the third respondent can be ordered to continue to hold the tournament. The petitioner, only for the purpose of clearing the obstruction had arrayed the third respondent as a party. The third respondent has nothing to do with the same. Hence, he prays for dismissal of this writ petition.

4. The present claim of the petitioner is that he has approached this Court at the earliest point of time and, therefore, he ought to be granted permission.

5. Considering the rival claims, it is seen that the petitioner’s group had not conducted the Kabadi Tournament during the year 2025. Taking note of the same, this Court is inclined to grant permission to the petitioner’s group to conduct the Kabadi Tournament for the year 2026.

6. Accordingly, the respondents are directed to consider the petitioner’s representation dated 24.11.2025, in the light of the circular issued by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, in Rc.No.007301/Genl.I(1)/2019, dated 09.04.2019, and grant permission, subject to compliance with the prescribed conditions.

7. As regards the rival group, both parties are advised to amicably resolve the issue by conducting the Kabadi Tournament in alternate years, so as to avoid future disputes.

8. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is allowed. No costs.