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No caste discrimination in temples: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has said there is no room for caste-based discrimination in places of worship, while hearing a petition alleging that non-Brahmin devotees were being treated differently at the Arulmigu Devaraja Swamy Temple in Kanchipuram. A bench of Justices G Jayachandran and E Manoharan said in the eyes of God all living beings are equal and God does not discriminate, and that courts have held there is no room for discrimination in a place of worship.
The petitioner, Madhavan Ramanuja Dasan, alleged that Brahmin devotees were allowed to use the main entrance of the shrine of Sri Manavala Mamunigal while non-Brahmins were directed to a side entrance, and that they were made to stand outside for theertham and prasadam. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department denied the allegations, saying sub-shrines were too small to accommodate all devotees during services.
The temple administration assured the court it would not discriminate in distribution of theertham, satari and prasadam. On recital of hymns, it said only the Adhyapaka Mirasi held a statutory right during specific services, but clarified that other devotees could still recite the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The court recorded the statement and closed the petition.
Indian Opinion Analysis
This case is one of several in Tamil Nadu where caste-based access to temple spaces has been challenged. The state's HR&CE department administers thousands of temples, many with hereditary service rights that can conflict with modern equality norms. The court avoided striking down the traditional right of the Adhyapaka Mirasi, instead allowing parallel access for all devotees. This balancing act leaves the underlying caste-linked structure intact while promising no discrimination in practice. The key test will be whether the administration's undertaking translates into real change on the ground at Kanchipuram and other temples. Watch for future petitions if devotees report continued barriers.
Source: barandbench.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
