Madras High Court: An important comment has come out from the Madras High Court regarding the appointment of priests, in which the High Court has said that caste has no role in the appointment of priests in temples. In this, it should only be seen that how capable the person is, he is well versed in his work, trained and able to perform worship according to the need. It was clarified by the High Court that if a person fulfills all these criteria, then caste will have no role in it.
Advertisement of appointment was challenged
Justice N Anand Venkatesh made this important comment while giving his verdict on a 2018 petition. In this case, the advertisement taken out for the appointment of the priest was challenged, citing caste as the basis, which the High Court refused to accept. An advertisement put out by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) of Tamil Nadu in 2018 for the recruitment of priests at the Sree Sugavaneswara Swamy Temple was challenged by Muthu Subramaniam Gurukkal.
Petitioner Muthu Subramaniam Gurukkal, keeping his side regarding this matter, said that it is a violation of his hereditary rights. The petitioner, Gurukkal, had taken over the post of priest from his grandfather, behind which he argues that his family has been doing the same work since ancient times.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s decision
While giving the verdict on this matter, Justice Venkatesh referred to the decision of the Supreme Court in 2016 in the case of All India Aadi Shaiva Shivcharigal Seva Sangam vs. State of Tamil Nadu. Where the Supreme Court held that the appointment of a temple priest is a secular function, there is nothing hereditary in it. The Madras High Court directed that the priest should be appointed according to the decision of the Supreme Court. The court directed the executive officer of the temple to issue an advertisement, and also allowed the petitioner to worship till the appointment process is completed. Apart from this, the High Court said that the petitioner can also participate in the selection process.
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