‘Discrimination Can’t Hide Behind Tradition’: Madras High Court Orders Temple Car to Enter Dalit Colony

The Madras High Court has directed that the temple car of Muthu Kolakki Amman Temple in Kancheepuram district be taken through the Dalit colony during its annual festival.

The bench of Justice P.B. Balaji, on November 7, said no tradition or practice can justify keeping any community out of worship or denying them participation in temple rituals.

“Faith cannot be fenced by caste or creed and divinity cannot be confined by human prejudice. God does not reside in certain streets alone. No street is unworthy of the chariot or the god it carries. So discrimination cannot be wrapped in the sanctity of tradition,” the court said.

A petition was filed by one Selvaraj, a Scheduled Caste resident of Puthagaram village, who sought a direction to allow members of his community to enter and worship at the temple and to ensure that the temple chariot, during its trial and main runs, passes through the Dalit colony.

The petitioner said caste Hindus had long resisted the participation of Dalits in temple rituals and prevented the temple car from entering their locality, forcing the community to make repeated representations to district officials. Despite the temple being under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, he alleged that discrimination continued.

Government officials, including the HR&CE Department, denied any prohibition on Dalits entering the temple or taking part in the festival. However, private respondents from upper-caste groups opposed extending the traditional route of the chariot procession, arguing that the practice had existed for decades and that allowing a change could trigger similar demands from other groups.

In September, the court had directed the Kancheepuram District Collector to inspect the temple area and examine whether the extension of the chariot route to include the Dalit colony was possible. The Collector, after conducting a joint inspection with the Superintendent of Police, Sub-Collector, HR&CE officials, and other revenue officers, filed a report concluding that the proposed extension was technically feasible and would not affect the historic character of the festival. The report included an integrated route plan suggesting minor repairs to certain stretches to make the extended route operational.

Accepting the findings, court allowed the petition and approved the integrated route proposed by the Collector. It directed that the temple car must take the new route during both the trial and main runs of the festival. Court also recorded the assurance of officials that there was no restriction on Dalits entering the temple and directed the authorities to ensure that no form of discrimination was allowed.

“We as a Society have evolved over time and have adapted to several changes and therefore, to resist change citing settled custom, tradition and practice can never be a valid defence available to the private respondents,” Justice Balaji observed, rejecting the argument that altering the chariot route could open the door to other demands.

Court also directed the police to provide adequate security during the festival and ensure peace. The Collector’s route map was made part of the order.

Case Title: Selvaraj vs. The District Collector, Kancheepuram and Others

Order Date: November 7, 2025

Bench: Justice P.B. Balaji