PIL Challenging G.O. Allowing Devotees To Climb Kanagasabhai Mandapam At Chidambaram Temple Filed In Madras High Court

Temple Worshippers Society president, TR Ramesh, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madras High Court challenging a government order (G.O.) issued by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department on 17 May, 2022 permitting devotees to climb up the Kanagasabhai mandapam to have darshan of the deity in the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram.

In the PIL, Ramesh has said that the HRCE Act 1959 does not allow the government to interfere with denominational temples.

He added that two separate judgments of the Madras High Court had recognized the temple as belonging to a religious denomination.

A writ petition was filed in 2022 by an individual, in the High Court seeking permission for the devotees to climb the Kanagasabhai Mandapam. The High Court asked the HRCE Department, the Cuddalore District Collector, and the secretary of the Dikshitar committee to make a decision after the end of COVID threats.

The government then sought remarks from the HRCE Commissioner and the Collector but did not seek the opinion of the Dikshitars, who were opposed to it, reported The Hindu.

Darshan from the Kanagasabhai mandapam was recently restricted temporarily by the Dikshitars due to the Aani Thirumanjanam festival citing crowd control and security reasons. They had contended that this was the practise since immemorial and the government had no authority to interfere with this decision.

The HRCE department officials have also faced criticism for climbing up the Kanagasabhai mandapam in spite of opposition from Dikshitars.

Meanwhile, the police have filed an FIR against unidentified persons for social media posts alleging that a Dikshitar had been assaulted by officials and his sacred thread was cut.

Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intention to cause riot), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 505 (i) (b) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public) and 505 (ii) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code have been applied in the FIR.

Also Read: In Response To DMK Govt's Chidambaram Temple Take Over Plans, Annamalai Says It Will Face Consequences For Going Against Hindus And Court Judgements

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