‘Temples are not picnic spots’: Madras HC restricts entry of non-Hindus to temples in Tamil Nadu!

JAN-31, The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered the entry of non-Hindus into all Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu. Directed the Tamil Nadu HR&CE department to erect boards prohibiting entry. Court allowed access upto the ‘kodimaram’ (flagpole) area of ​​each shrine and said Hindus also have a fundamental right to profess and practice their religion.

Justice S. Sreemathy of the HC Madurai Bench on Senthilkumar’s plea seeking direction to allow entry only to Hindus as permitted in the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple and its sub-temple. I gave my verdict while listening to it. Justice also called for proper signage to be installed at all entrances.

The famous Lord Murugan temple is located at Palani in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The respondents were the Government of Tamil Nadu represented by the Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, the Secretary, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) and the Managing Director, Palani Temples. HR&CE department manages Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.

The court allows the petition and directs the respondents to install a board at the entrance of the temple, near the flagpole and in a conspicuous place of the shrine that reads, “Non-Hindus will not be allowed to enter the temple from Kodimaram onwards.” I instructed to do so.

Further, whenever such a person is admitted under any business, he must be registered in the register maintained by the temple.”The defendants are required to maintain the temple premises in strict compliance with the agama (temple regulations), temple customs ,” the judge said.

The Supreme Court also referred to certain cases where non-Hindus allegedly entered temples.

“At the Arulmigu Brahadeeswarar Temple, it was also reported that groups of people belonging to different religions were using the temple premises as a picnic site and were eating non-vegetarian food within the temple premises. Similarly, recently on January 11, 2024, a newspaper reported that a group of people belonging to other religions visited the Sanctuary and Holy of Holies at the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple in Madurai with their ‘holy books’. It was reported that they went near the place and tried to pray there.

The judges said these incidents were an absolute violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to Hindus in the Constitution.