(K. Chandru, J.)

The short question that arises for consideration in these two writ petitions is as to whether the action of the official respondents in providing for archanas to be performed in Tamil at the request of the devotees in addition to the existing practice of reciting archanas in Sanskrit, would offend the right to profess Hindu religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

2. In W.P. No. 15791 of 1998, the petitioner claims to be the President of the Hindu Temple Protection Committee and seeks for a direction to prevent the respondents State of Tamil Nadu and the Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (for short, HR&CE) Department from interfering in any manner with the ceremonies, poojas and mode of performance, daily rituals of temples by customary traditional mode of worship.

3. In W.P. No. 16932 of 1998, the petitioner, a hereditary archaka of the temple at Uthirakosamangai, Ramnad District, seeks for a prayer to forbear the respondent State and the subordinates from implementing the Tamil language in performance of poojas / archanas in the temple contrary to the Adamic principles.

4. In both the cases, notice o