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2025 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 35282
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N. ANAND VENKATESH, J
Venkatesan S/o. Arunachalam – Appellant
Versus
The District Collector District Collectorate, Ariyalur – Respondent
WP No. 26255 of 2025
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.Deepika S, For Mr.T.M.Rajangam
For the Respondents:Government Advocate for R1, R3 and R4, Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan Special Government Pleader for R5, Mr.V.Meganathan Government Advocate [Crl Side] for R5
Caste-based discrimination in temple entry violates fundamental rights and must be prohibited according to legal provisions.
Headnote:(A) Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947 - Section 3 - Writ of Mandamus - Petition filed for directing the entry of Scheduled Caste community into a temple and to participate in a festival - Court affirmed that all Hindus regardless of caste must be permitted entry into temples, citing the Act as a policy to remove entry disabilities. (Paras 3, 4)
(B) Legal Principle - Caste discrimination in worship violates dignity and law; the court emphasized that such discrimination cannot be allowed in a rule of law framework. (Paras 3)
Facts of the case:
The petition claimed that the Scheduled Caste community was being denied entry into a public temple for worship and participation in an upcoming festival, contravening the principles of equality and dignity.
Findings of Court:
The Court asserted that preventing entry based on caste is an affront to human dignity and mandated that all Hindus be allowed entry into the temple. Legal action is to be taken against those who violate this directive.
Issues: Whether the Scheduled Caste community should be allowed entry into the temple and participate in the festival without discrimination.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court ruled that caste should not determine one's access to worship and reinforced that legal provisions support the rights of all Hindus to enter temples.
Result: The writ petition is disposed with directions for permiting entry and participation in the festival.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. writ petition for temple entry rights. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. public access to worship must include all castes. (Para 3) |
| 3. court orders action against caste-based entry restrictions. (Para 4) |
| 4. final judgment mandates legal compliance. (Para 5) |
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed for the issue of writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to permit the petitioner and others, who belong to the Scheduled caste community to enter into the temple and to participate in the temple car festival to be held from 16.07.2025 to 31.07.2025.
2. When the writ petition was taken up for hearing, the learned Special Government Pleader submitted that the concerned temple is not within the control of the HR&CE Department.
3. In the considered view of this Court, if a temple is permitted to be visited by the general public, it assumes the character of a public temple. In such an event, irrespective of the caste or community of the devotees, they must be permitted to offer their prayers to god. Caste and community are the creations of human beings and god is always considered to be neutral. That apart, preventing persons from offering prayers on the basis that they belong to Scheduled Caste community, is an affront to the dignity of persons who are discriminated based on their caste. This can never be permitted in a country, which is governed by the Rule of law. That apart, Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947 , makes it abundantly clear that not withstanding any law, custom or usage to the contrary, every Hindu irrespective of the caste or sect to which he belongs to, shall be entitled to enter any Hindu temple and offer workship therein. If they are restricted entry, it will amount to an actionable wrong / offence and the concerned person can be sued or prosecuted there for. This act came into force after a long struggle by many leaders, who wanted to ensure that persons are not prevented from entering into the temples based on their caste. The Act was brought into force as a policy taken by the State Government to remove the disabilities imposed on certain classes of Hindus against entry into Hindu temples in the State.
4. In view of the above discussion, there shall be a direction to the respondents 2 and 4 to ensure that all classes of Hindus are permitted to enter into the temple and participate in the festival. If any one prevents them from participating, action shall be taken in accordance with law. It shall be ensured that no law and order problem is created.
5. This writ petition is disposed of with the above directions.
No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
17-07-2025 rka Note : Issue order copy on 17.07.2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No To
1.The District Collector District Collectorate, Ariyalur
2.Superintendent Of Police Ariyalur
3.Parimalam, PA Grievances To Collector District Collectorate, Ariyalur
621 704.
4.Revenue Divisional Officer Udayarpalayam division, Ariyalur 621 704
5.Assistant Commissioner HR&CE, Ariyalur
6.The Inspector Of Police Jeyakondam Police Station, Ariyalur
7.Samikannu S/o. R Amasamy, Kandiyankoillai Village, Ariyalur N.ANAND VENKATESH J.
rka WMP NOs. 29554 and
