Appointing those who have undertaken one year certificate course is ludicrous: Contempt plea filed before Madras High Court against appointment of ‘unqualified persons’ as Archakas in temples

The All India Adi Salva Sivacharyargal Seva Sangam has filed a contempt petition before the Madras High Court assailing the appointment of 24 “unqualified persons” as Archakas in different temples across the State.

The affidavit filed by BSR Muthukumar, General Secretary of the petitioner Sangam, states that the respondent State had issued several advertisements in July, 2021 calling for applications to fill up posts of Archakas, Odhuvars, Paricharakar, etc., in temples in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Through this advertisement the state proposed to appoint people who had completed a one year certificate course of Archakas in temples which were established In accordance with the Agamas.

The petitioner had thus filed a Writ Petition before the High Court seeking to quash the said advertisements and consequently directing the respondents to strictly adhere to the Agamas in selection of Archakas as directed by the Supreme Court in Adi Saiva Sivachariyargal Nala Sangam v State of Tamil Nadu & another.

The Sangam had further sought a stay on the operation of the said advertisements pending disposal of the Writ Petition. The Court had then issued an order on August 5 granting status quo.

It is thus the case of the Sangam that such appointment is in direct violation of the order passed by the High Court.

The contempt plea further adds that the Agamas is an extensive subject which involves years of intense training to obtain proficiency.

“Those who are experienced In Agamas do not undergo one year certificate course. Instead, they obtain Diksha (initiation) from their Guru (of their Sect) at a very early age and undergo rigorous Vedic education for a minimum period of three years. Thereafter, they are groomed to perform Poojas and Homams for another three to five years before taking over as Archakas”, adds the plea.

The advertisement is also said to have unequivocally excluded Gurukkul education, prior experience to perform Poojas, etc as a pre-requisite for appointment.

It is thus argued that the respondent state has wilfully disobeyed the status quo ordered by the High Court while they attempted to complete the process of appointments in a covert manner.

Furthermore, the petitioners state that a notice was issued calling upon the respondents to comply with the said order but they went on to hastily conduct Interviews as per their whims and fancies and issued appointment Orders on August 14, 2021.