Madras high court rejects batch of pleas seeking basic amenities

Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed a batch of petitions relating to regulating the devotees darshan and ensure their safety and provide all basic needs and amenities to the devotees who come for darshan to Arulmigu Athi Varathar of Arulmigu Devaraja Swamy Temple in Kancheepuram district.

A division bench comprising Justices S.Manikumar and Subramonium

Prasad dismissed a batch of petition from A.Radhakrishnan of Salem district and others.

After perusing the detailed report filed the state government, the bench said it was stated that till now more than 34 lakh persons had visited the temple and had the darshan of Athi Varathar and the state police have been able to control the crowd. The argument that the local police was not able to control the crowd does not persuade it to take the help of CISF, the bench added.

Rejecting the argument that the local residents were put to hardship, the bench said no doubt some inconvenience would be caused to the local residents because of the number of people who assemble at Kancheepuram.

But to maintain law and order and public order, the state government has to take reasonable precautions and steps which was in the interest of public, even if it causes inconvenience to the residents and devotees, the bench added.

Referring to the contention that the darshan of Moolavar was prohibited, the bench said it was for the state government to regulate darshan and no binding precedent has been placed before the court that the right to have glimpse of the Moolavar was a part of religion.