Madras High Court Restricts Non-Hindus' Entry Into Temples
Madras High Court restricts non-Hindu entry in certain temple areas, aiming to preserve sanctity but sparking concerns over discrimination and religious freedom.
The Madras High Court ordered the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to install restriction boards stating that non-Hindus are not permitted in certain temple areas in all the Hindu temples across the state on 30th January 2024. The order was passed by Madurai High Court Justice S Srimathy during the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple plea hearing, popularly known as the Palani temple. The plea was led by D Senthilkumar - organizer of Palani hill temple devotees organization. Senthikumar was seeking High Court’s permission to allow only Hindus inside the premises of the temple and sub-temples. The temple is a famous Lord Murugan (Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati’s elder son - Lord Kartikeya) temple and is located in Palani city near Coimbatore from where it gets its name. Justice S Srimathy admitted the plea petition and ordered the court HR&CE department to install boards indicating "non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple beyond ‘Kodimaram’ (traditional flagpole area near the entrance of the temples) and at prominent places in the shrine. Justice S Srimathy announced “The respondents are directed not to allow the non-Hindus who do not believe in Hindu religion. If any Non-Hindu claims to visit particular deity in the temple, then the respondents shall obtain undertaking from the said non-Hindu that he is having faith in the deity and he would follow the customs and practices of Hindu religion and also abide by the temple customs and on such undertaking the said non-Hindu may be allowed to visit the temple.” She also ordered the temple to register all such undertakings for the record and asked it to ensure that the temple premises strictly follow the agamas (temple rules), customs and practices. Justice S Srimathy also said that because the issue raised is a larger issue therefore the same restrictions ought to be applicable to all Hindu temples to ensure communal harmony among different religions and peace in the society. She also referred to certain incidents of non-Hindus allegedly entering the temples, treating the temple as a picnic spot and even having non-vegetarian food inside the temple premises. Therefore, Justice S Srimathy announced that the temple is not a picnic spot or tourist spot & therefore cannot be used as one. Many people of other religions visit the temples as tourists. Hence, they are allowed only till Kodimaram to admire & appreciate the history & architecture of the monument. The court also said that along with other religions, Hindus also have the fundamental right to follow and practice their religion.” This order of religion based restrictions on entry into public temples came at the same time when the Supreme Court ordered its Registry, all High Courts, and subordinate courts to stop the practice of mentioning the caste or religion of litigants in case papers. Is the Madra High Court decision right or wrong, according to you?
