Madras High Court issues common directions for conduct of cultural programs at temples during festivals

As the month of April marks the season of temple festivals in both rural and urban Tamil Nadu, the managements of many temples have approached the Madras High Court seeking permission to conduct cultural programs as a part of the festival. It is to be noted that a bulk of these matters are listed before Justices Ilanthirayan and Jagadish Chandra. The judges while permitting the conduct of directs the management/trustees of the temples to deposit amounts varying from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 to the police for ensuring security during the conduct of these cultural programs.

Since it is common for clashes to occur during these festivals, the judges have laid down clear guidelines as to how the festivals should be conducted. The guidelines laid down by the court are as follows

1. The cultural programme in connection with festival or any cultural programme, should specify the time and the same shall not be later than 10.00 p.m;
2. double meaning  (vulgar) songs should not be played so as to spoil the minds of students and the youth;
3. no songs, touching upon any political party or religion, community or caste be played;
4. Organisers shall not erect any digital banners/pla cards on either side of the arterial roads, platforms, walkways/major roads and any other roads;
5. the function should not affect caste, religious or communal harmony and shall be conducted without any discrimination;
6. if there is any violation of any one of the conditions imposed, the concerned Police Officer is at liberty to take necessary action, as per law and stop such performance;
7. similarly, the Police is empowered to stop the programme, if it exceeds beyond the permitted time;
8. the participants of the programme shall not intake any kind of in-toxic substance or liquor during the programme;
9. if any untoward incident takes place, the organisers of the programme be made responsible for the same;
10. the authority concerned shall videographer the entire programme at the cost of the applicant and submit the CD to the S.P concerned;
11. Organisers shall have to obtain all other required permission from the authorities concerned; (l)Any other conditions as the authority concerned consider to impose according to the ground reality

The court has further issued directions to the management of the temple to maintain law and order during the conduct of these programs.