The Madras High Court has said that caste-based discrimination has no place in temples, while hearing allegations 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 made the observation while hearing a public interest litigation in Madhavan v. Commissioner, HR&CE.
“In the eyes of God, all living beings are equal and God does not discriminate,” the Bench said. “There is no room for discrimination in a place of worship.”
The Court also referred to a verse from the Bhagavad Gita stating that God treats all living beings equally and is neither partial towards nor hateful of anyone.
Allegations of Different Treatment of Devotees
The petition was filed by Madhavan Ramanuja Dasan, a Thenkalai Vaishnavite and secretary of the Thirukatchi Nambi Thirumaladiar Seva Sangam.
Dasan alleged that non-Brahmin devotees were being treated differently at the shrine of Sri Manavala Mamunigal inside the temple.
According to the petition, the shrine has a main entrance and a side entrance, with Brahmin devotees allegedly allowed to use the main entrance while non-Brahmin devotees were directed towards the side entrance.
The petitioner also alleged that non-Brahmin devotees had to remain outside the shrine while receiving theertham and prasadam. He further claimed that satari, a traditional ritual object placed on a devotee’s head, was not being offered to them.
The petition also raised concerns over restrictions on devotees reciting hymns inside the temple.
Temple Administration Denies Discrimination
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and temple administration denied the allegations.
They told the Court that some of the sub-shrines were too small to accommodate all devotees during religious services. Even members of the Adhyapaka Goshti and other temple service holders could not always enter the shrines, the administration said.
The temple authorities also gave an undertaking that no section of devotees would be discriminated against while distributing theertham, satari or prasadam.
The High Court recorded this undertaking.
Traditional Rights Can Continue
On the issue of reciting hymns, the administration said members of the Adhyapaka Mirasi, a traditional service associated with the Thenkalai sect, have a legally protected right to recite hymns during specific temple services.
The Court was told that this traditional service also carries remuneration and certain temple honours.
However, the temple administration clarified that this right does not prevent other devotees from reciting the Nalayira Divya Prabandham as part of their worship.
The administration assured the Court that neither the petitioner nor any other devotee or group would be prevented from reciting the Prabandham at the temple’s shrines.
Court Closes Petition
The Bench said the arrangement would allow the traditional rights of the Adhyapaka Mirasi to continue while also ensuring that other devotees could participate in hymn recitation.
“In this way, there is no discrimination occurring by following any tradition,” the Court observed.
With these observations and the assurances given by the temple administration, the High Court closed the petition.
The ruling underlines the Court’s view that religious traditions may continue, but they cannot be used as a basis to deny devotees equal treatment on caste grounds.
