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The bench opined that if a person belonging to another religion, has faith in a particular Hindu deity, that cannot be prevented nor can his entry into a temple be prohibited.
The Madras High Court has recently held that “if a person belonging to another religion, has faith in a particular Hindu deity, that cannot be prevented nor can his entry into a temple be prohibited.”
The order has been passed in a Public Interest Litigation plea filed by one C Soman in the court seeking a direction that the non-Hindus should not be permitted to participate in the festival of millennia-old Adikesava Perumal Thirukovil at Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari District.
A bench of Justice PN Prakash and Justice R Hemalatha dismissed the plea stating that “when a public festival like the Kumababishegam of a temple is performed, it will be impossible for the authorities to check the religious identity of every devotee for the purpose of permitting his entry into the temple.”
The court said, “It is common knowledge that the devotional songs of Dr.K.J.Yesudas, a Christian by birth, rendered on various Hindu Gods are played without any demur in temples. In fact, in Nagore Dargah and Vailankanni Church, scores of Hindus worship.”
The bench opined that when a public festival like the Kumababishegam of a temple is performed, it will be impossible for the authorities to check the religious identity of every devotee to permit his entry into the temple.
Additionally, the bench while dismissing the plea further said that if a person belonging to another religion, has faith in a particular Hindu deity, that cannot be prevented nor can his entry into a temple be prohibited.
Case Title: C Soman Vs. The Secretary, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department & Ors
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