The Hindu : National : Petition seeks Court fiat on rituals in temples

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Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006

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National

Petition seeks Court fiat on rituals in temples

J. Venkatesan

Bench asks counsel to furnish details in four weeks

New Delhi: A special leave petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure that poojas and rituals are conducted as per the agama sastras.

A Bench of Justice H.K. Sema and Justice B.N. Srikrishna on Monday asked the petitioner to give a comprehensive chart with details of the erring temples.

Senior counsel M.N. Krishnamani, appearing for petitioner-advocate G. Rajendran, submitted that most of the temples did not adhere to the agama sastras and even kumbabhishekams were being postponed.

The Bench asked counsel to submit within four weeks, details and specific instances where kumbabhishekams had been postponed; poojas and rituals were not being performed in time; temple tanks were being auctioned for fishing rights; temples had toilets inside the premises; temples where tickets were being issued for special darshan to VIPs and others and food items were being inside the temple premises.

The petitioner said that he had written to the Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board, expressing concern over the to postponement of kumbhabhishekam in some temples and violation of the agama sastras. The Commissioner did not take any action.

He filed a writ petition before the Madras High Court, which held that the petition was not maintainable.

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