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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 45943
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
L.Victoria Gowri, J
V.Nagarajan – Appellant
Versus
State of Tamilnadu – Respondent
W.M.P.Crl.(MD)No.648 of 2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: R.Alagumani
For the Respondents: D.Rajaboopathy
The state is mandated to ensure that citizens are not unlawfully excommunicated or hindered from entering and worshipping in public temples, safeguarding the fundamental right to freedom of worship.
Headnote:This petition involves the enforcement of constitutional rights regarding freedom of worship under the Constitution of India, 1950. The petitioner alleged he was unlawfully excommunicated from a temple by private respondents and sought police intervention after authorities failed to act on his representation. The Court determined that no individual can be constitutionally barred from accessing a place of public worship. The issue before the Court was whether the state authorities are obligated to ensure the right of a citizen to worship without fear of excommunication. The Court held that freedom of worship is an essential right and any form of social excommunication from a place of prayer is legally impermissible, directing local authorities to ensure access. The writ petition was allowed, ensuring the petitioner's right to enter and worship at the temple.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. petitioner seeking mandate against alleged unlawful temple excommunication. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. state must ensure right to worship and prevent excommunication. (Para 3 , 4 , 5 , 6) |
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the respondents 1 to 3 to take appropriate action against the respondents 4 to 8 for excommunicating the petitioner from entering and worship in Arulmigu Sri Dharma Sastha Ayyappan Temple, Gandhigramam, Karur District, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 27.04.2026 in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been unlawfully excommunicated by the respondents 4 to 8 and prevented from entering and worshipping in the aforesaid temple. Aggrieved by the said action, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 27.04.2026 to the concerned authorities seeking appropriate intervention. Since no action has been taken on the said representation till date, the present writ petition has been filed.
3. The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondent police submitted that the respondent police would ensure that no individual is prevented from entering, participating in, or worshipping at the aforesaid temple and that adequate measures would be taken to maintain peace and public order.
4. Heard the learned counsel on either sides and carefully perused the materials available on record. Since no adverse order is proposed to be passed against the private respondents, notice to them is dispensed with.
5. Making it clear that no person in this country can be excommunicated from entering any temple or worshipping any deity therein, this Court directs respondents 1 to 3 to ensure that the petitioner is permitted to participate in all religious functions connected with Arulmigu Sri Dharma Sastha Ayyappan Temple, Gandhigramam, Karur District, without any fear or hindrance, and that he shall be permitted entry into the said temple for worship.
6. The private respondents are further directed not to excommunicate or in any manner prevent any person, including the petitioner, from participating in the temple festival or from engaging in regular worship at Arulmigu Sri Dharma Sastha Ayyappan Temple, Gandhigramam, Karur District.
7. With the above direction, this writ petition stands allowed.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
