MADURAI: Non-Hindus who sport their religious markers — and who do not subscribe to their reverence to the deity — cannot be permitted to enter the Agamic Hindu temple premises, Madras high court has held.A division bench of Justice G R Swaminathan and Justice P Murugan, hearing a public interest litigation filed by K Thangam Venkatesh of Madurai, said: “The petitioner is a Hindu. He is entitled to insist that the trustees of the various agamic temples in Tamil Nadu uphold the agamic injunctions by not permitting non-Hindus who do not sign the undertaking from crossing the flagpole. If such entry is permitted, it would defile the sanctity of the temple. We intend to go a step further. Even entry into the temple premises, cannot be permitted for non-Hindus who sport their religious markers and who do not subscribe their reverence for the deity concerned. This subscription must be in the format prescribed by the institution concerned.”In this regard the judges flayed Badrudeen Mustafa, a TVK MLA from Madurai Central constituency, as he was seen inside the Meenakshi temple for ‘inspection’ and was atop the gopuram during its recent consecration.“We notice in recent times that there are egregious breaches. Badrudeen Mustafa, an MLA representing the Madurai Central constituency, where the famed Meenakshi temple is located, went inside the temple premises soon after his election. He claimed that he had a right to inspect if proper amenities were being provided. He also went up the temple towers on the occasion of Kumbabishekam. It is ironic that the said MLA proclaimed that Sanatana Dharma ought to be eradicated,” observed the judges.“We take judicial notice of a video doing rounds in the social media of persons wearing skull caps, pushing their way through in Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple, notwithstanding the vigorous protests of the devotees. The HR and CE staff stood as mute spectators,” the judges said.“We take judicial notice of the fact that a minister who is a Christian by faith, entered Thiruchendur temple without giving the undertaking required from non-Hindus,” they added.They, however, commended Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay, saying: “We have the illustrious instance of chief minister C Joseph Vijay, who worshipped Goddess Meenakshi after signing the undertaking. The chief minister, who is a Christian by faith, was not asked to convert to Hinduism. He was only requested to affirm his reverence for the deity. This is what we call an inclusive approach.”Flaying ‘Chamchagiri’ in politics, the division bench said, “not only Chamchagiri, but also optics matters in a democracy. We know of one political leader, who is a fundamentalist subscribing to a non-Hindu faith. But he would make it a point to visit the temple and also prominently display the religious mark on his forehead. This was to play to the gallery. The vote value of such a display is obvious. We hold that usages and customs of the temple cannot kneel down before such display of Chamchagiri and optics.”The PIL, filed by K Thangam Venkatesh, sought a direction to the authorities to conduct inquiry against violators of statutory provisions of Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorization Act and the Rules and strictly enforce the statutory provisions.While passing the orders, the judges made it clear at the very outset that the scope of the judgment was confined to Agamic temples. “Lord Ayyapa has devotees cutting across religions. Shirdi Sai Baba is also beyond religion. Both Hindus as well as Muslims claimed him as their own. Of course, now, he is more a part of the Hindu pantheon,” they observed.
