CHENNAI: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) general secretary Thol. Thirumavalavan has moved the Madras High Court seeking direction to authorities to ensure that people of all castes, including Dalits, are permitted to enter the Kandampatti Draupadhi Amman Temple in Salem.
He also wanted the court to quash an August 4 order of the Salem city police denying him permission to take out a rally from Bose Playground to Kandampatti in protest against the discrimination against Dalits, who were prevented from entering the temple.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani, before which the matter came up for admission on Thursday, ordered notices to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Salem City, and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department.
Though kumbabhishekam of the temple was performed with the participation of all sections of people in 1999, attempts were being made to prevent the entry of Dalits recently, Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
Referring to the sealing of the temple, allegedly with the consent of all the parties concerned, he said the authorities had no jurisdiction to keep the temple under lock and key as it would amount to “unlawful interference with the Dalits’ rights.”
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