The courtroom stated Hindus even have basic proper to profess and follow their faith.
Madurai:
The Madras Excessive Court docket on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu HR&CE division to put in boards in all Hindu temples stating non-Hindus weren’t permitted past the ’Kodimaram’ (flagpole) space within the respective shrines and stated Hindus even have basic proper to profess and follow their faith.
Justice S Srimathy of the HC’s Madurai Bench gave the judgement whereas listening to a plea from D Senthilkumar, who sought instructions to the respondents to allow Hindus alone to the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple and its sub temples. He additionally needed that show boards to that impact in all entrances be arrange.
The well-known Lord Murugan temple is situated in Palani in Dindigul district.
The respondents have been the Tamil Nadu authorities, represented by Principal Secretary, Division of Tourism, Tradition and Non secular Endowments, The Commissioner, Hindu Non secular and Charitable Endowments Division (HR&CE) and the Government Officer of the Palani temple.
The HR&CE division administers Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.
Admitting the petition, the courtroom directed the respondents to put in boards indicating ”non-Hindus are usually not allowed inside temple after Kodimaram” within the entrance of the temples, close to the flagpole and at distinguished locations within the shrine.
”The respondents are directed to not permit the non-Hindus who don’t consider in Hindu faith. If any Non-Hindu claims to go to explicit deity within the temple, then the respondents shall get hold of enterprise from the stated non-Hindu that he’s having religion within the deity and he would observe the customs and practices of Hindu faith and in addition abide by the temple customs and on such enterprise the stated non-Hindu could also be allowed to go to the temple,” the courtroom dominated.
Additional, at any time when a such an individual is allowed primarily based on the enterprise the identical shall be entered within the register which shall be maintained by the temple.
”The respondents shall keep the temple premises by strictly following the agamas (temple guidelines), customs and practices of the temple,” the decide stated.
The respondents submitted the stated writ petition was filed just for the Palani temple and the order could also be restricted to it alone.
”However the difficulty raised is bigger difficulty and the identical must be relevant to all Hindu temples, therefore the plea of the respondents is rejected. As said supra these restrictions would guarantee communal concord amongst completely different religions and guarantee peace within the society. Due to this fact the State Authorities, the HR&CE division, the respondents and all individuals who’re concerned in temple administration are directed to observe the instructions to all Hindu temples,” the courtroom stated.
The individuals belonging to Hindu faith have proper to profess and follow the religion.
”Likewise, individuals belonging to different religions have proper to profess and follow their faith. However the customs and follow of their respective faith can’t be interfering with and any interference must be curtailed. The temple is just not (a) picnic spot or vacationer spot. Even in Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur the opposite faith persons are allowed to admire and recognize the architectural monuments of the temple, however not after Kodimaram.” ”Whereas admiring the architectural monuments the individuals can’t use the premises as picnic spot or vacationer spot and the temples premises must be maintained with reverence and as per agamas. Due to this fact, the rights assured underneath the Articles is just not granting any proper to the respondents to permit the opposite faith individuals if they don’t have any religion and perception within the Hindu faith. Furthermore, the rights are assured to all religions and there can’t be any bias in making use of such proper,” the courtroom added.
The Excessive Court docket additionally referred to sure incidents of non-Hindus allegedly getting into temples.
”It was additionally reported that in Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple a gaggle of individuals belonging to different faith had handled the temple premises as picnic spot and had non vegetarian meals contained in the temple premises. Likewise, just lately on 11.01.2024 a newspaper had reported {that a} group of individuals belonging to the opposite faith had entered the Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai with ”their sacred e-book” close to sanctum and sanctorum and was trying to do their prayers” there.
These incidents are completely interfering with the elemental rights assured to the Hindus underneath the Structure, the decide stated.
”The Hindus even have basic proper to profess and follow their faith freely and propagate their faith with out interfering of their means of follow. Due to this fact, the Hindus have proper to take care of their temples as per their customs, practices and Hindu Non secular and Charitable Endowment Division is having obligation to guard the temples from such undesirable incidents.” ”In reality, within the above narrated incidents the Division had failed to guard the elemental rights assured underneath the structure,” the courtroom added.
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