Madurai:

The Madras Excessive Courtroom 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 mentioned Hindus even have basic proper to profess and observe 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 had been the Tamil Nadu authorities, represented by Principal Secretary, Division of Tourism, Tradition and Spiritual Endowments, The Commissioner, Hindu Spiritual and Charitable Endowments Division (HR&CE) and the Govt 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 enable the non-Hindus who don’t imagine in Hindu faith. If any Non-Hindu claims to go to explicit deity within the temple, then the respondents shall acquire enterprise from the mentioned non-Hindu that he’s having religion within the deity and he would comply with the customs and practices of Hindu faith and in addition abide by the temple customs and on such enterprise the mentioned 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 preserve the temple premises by strictly following the agamas (temple guidelines), customs and practices of the temple,” the decide mentioned.

The respondents submitted the mentioned writ petition was filed just for the Palani temple and the order could also be restricted to it alone.

“However the subject raised is bigger subject and the identical must be relevant to all Hindu temples, therefore the plea of the respondents is rejected. As acknowledged supra these restrictions would guarantee communal concord amongst totally different religions and guarantee peace within the society. Subsequently the State Authorities, the HR&CE division, the respondents and all individuals who’re concerned in temple administration are directed to comply with the instructions to all Hindu temples,” the courtroom mentioned.

The individuals belonging to Hindu faith have proper to profess and observe the religion.

“Likewise, individuals belonging to different religions have proper to profess and observe their faith. However the customs and observe 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 admire 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. Subsequently, the rights assured below 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 Courtroom additionally referred to sure incidents of non-Hindus allegedly coming 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, 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 ebook” close to sanctum and sanctorum and was making an attempt to do their prayers” there.

These incidents are completely interfering with the elemental rights assured to the Hindus below the Structure, the decide mentioned.

“The Hindus even have basic proper to profess and observe their faith freely and propagate their faith with out interfering of their method of observe. Subsequently, the Hindus have proper to keep up their temples as per their customs, practices and Hindu Spiritual 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 below the structure,” the courtroom added.

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)