Temple darshan for all from same distance: Madras HC

Chennai: Acting on a public interest litigation, which alleged discriminatory practice of allowing only the “paid darshan devotees” to pray from a close proximity to the deity in temples, Madras high court has said irrespective of paid or unpaid devotees, darshan of the deity shall be provided from the same distance to all.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar was passing orders on a PIL from the Indic Collective Trust through its Managing Trustee G. Aravindalochanan, which sought a direction to HR & CE requiring them to regulate or enforce or perform the secular activities, in particular to abolish the system of granting better opportunities and advantages to the devotees in the “paid darshan queue” in comparison to the devotees in the “free darshan queue” at Srivilliputtur Sri Andal Temple at Srivilliputtur, Arulmighu Ekambaranathar Temple at Kancheepuram and Arulmigu Oppiliappan Temple at Thirunagesaram.

According to petitioner, the practice adopted and followed at the  three temples was of providing special privileges such as, opportunity to worship the Deity from a shorter distance in comparison to others, opportunity to pray for longer durations, opportunity to stay at a closer proximity during procession of prayers by the priest, to the paying devotees, which was in violation of fundamental rights under Article 14 and 25 of the Constitution of India of devotees visiting the temples in the free darshan queue.

In response to his RTI query, the executive officer at Srivilliputtur replied that next to the Arthamandapam entrance, place for sitting darshan was allowed then a raised wooden structure was there for special darshan devotees.

Then there was a stone step which was higher than the above said wooden structure meant for common darshan. Subsequent to the reply, he though his counsel issued a notice to the authorities for abolition of discriminatory practice of allowing only the paid darshan devotees to pray from a close proximity to the Deity and for longer durations in comparison to the devotees visiting through the free darshan queue. However, authorities have failed to respond to his notice or to perform their duty, he added.