Madras High Court |
The Madras High Court, in a decisive move, has directed the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to prominently display boards in all Hindu temples, firmly stating that non-Hindus are not permitted beyond the sacred 'Kodimaram' (flagpole) area. Justice S Srimathy of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court emphasized that temples are not places for leisure or tourism but sacred spaces for religious observance.
This ruling, which upholds the fundamental right of Hindus to practice their religion without disruption, arose from a plea filed by D Senthilkumar, seeking to restrict entry to the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple and its sub-temples to Hindus only.
The court's directive mandates the installation of these boards at temple entrances and other prominent locations, reiterating the restriction on non-Hindus beyond the 'Kodimaram'. Additionally, it requires non-Hindus desiring to visit specific deities to provide an undertaking affirming their belief in Hinduism and willingness to adhere to temple customs.
The court firmly instructed the respondents not to permit non-Hindus who do not subscribe to Hindu beliefs. Those seeking access to specific deities must pledge adherence to Hindu customs and practices.
Furthermore, the judgment underscores the importance of temple administrations adhering strictly to customs, practices, and agamas. Rejecting the respondents' plea to limit the order to the Palani temple, the court asserted its applicability to all Hindu temples, citing the necessity for communal harmony and peace.
The ruling highlighted instances where non-Hindus entered temples for non-religious purposes, which it deemed as infringing upon the fundamental rights of Hindus. It stressed the HR&CE department's obligation to protect temples and uphold Hindus' constitutional rights to religious freedom.
The judgment admonished incidents such as the treating of the Arulmigu Brihadeeswarar Temple as a picnic spot, including the consumption of non-vegetarian food within its premises. It also referenced a recent incident where individuals from another religion entered the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai with their sacred text, attempting to conduct prayers near the sanctum sanctorum.
"These incidents unquestionably encroach upon the fundamental rights guaranteed to Hindus under the Constitution," remarked the judge.
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