Temple Kumbabishekam Can't Be Conducted By Individual: Madras High Court Orders Multi-Community Committee

The Madras High Court has observed that Kumbabishekam festivals in a temple cannot be conducted by an individual, especially when there are multiple communities residing in a village. Justice S Srimathy thus directed the fit person appointed to the Sri Muniyandi Swamy temple, Sri Ayyanar Swamy temple, Sri Karuppa Swamy temple and Sri Muthumariamman Swamy Temple to form a committee consisting of persons from each community for conducting the Kumbabishekam festival at the temples. The court remarked that first honour should not be given to any community and there should not be any discrimination. “Therefore, a fit person is directed to appoint one person from each community and form a Committee. The fit person along with the Committee shall conduct the Kumbabishekam festival. There shall not be any “First Honour” to any person or community people. There shall not be any discrimination. The 5th respondent is directed to hand over all the relevant records to the Committee and the fit person,” the court said. The court was hearing a petition filed by a resident of Melapanankadi Village, Madurai North seeking direction to the Tahsildar (Madurai North Taluk), and the Inspector of Police (Alanganallur Police Station) to form a committee consisting of members belonging to Mutharayar, Maravar and Adhi Dravidar communities for celebrating the Kumbabishekam festival to held on February 8th, 2026. The court was informed that a writ petition had been seeking direction to the HR & CE Department for appointing a fit person following which a fir person was appointed on January 29th, 2026. The present plea was with respect to who would conduct the Kumbabishekam festival. One of the private respondents argued that they had the right to conduct the festival. The court, however, observed that when five communities were living in the village, the right of first honour could not be granted to one particular community. The court thus directed that a committee had to be appointed, consisting of members from all communities in the village. Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. M. Ramu Counsel for Respondents: Mr. A. S. Abul Kaalam Azad Government Advocate (Crl. Side), Mr. A. K. Azagarsami Case Title: Rathinam v. The Superintendent of Police and Others Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 54 Case No: W.P.Crl.(MD) No. 500 of 2026 Click Here To Read/Download The Judgment

Temple Kumbabishekam Can't Be Conducted By Individual: Madras High Court Orders Multi-Community Committee

Upasana Sajeev

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