On July 21, the Madras High Court bemoaned the fact that temple festivals these days are only serving as a focal point for parties to display their power and encourage violence, with no true acts of devotion taking place during the said festivals. The Court further stated that if the purpose of these festivals has only been limited to perpetuating violence, such temples should be closed.
Brief background of the petition:
The court was hearing a petition moved by K.Thangarasu @ K.Thangaraj to seek police protection for holding a festival at a temple. The petitioner claimed to be the Hereditary Trustee of Arulmighu Sri Ruthra Maha Kaliyamman Alayam. The petitioner had requested police protection in order to ensure that no undesirable situations occurrs during a celebration proposed to be held between July 23 and August. It was purported by the petitioner that the said celebration takes place every year during the Aadi month.
Arguments of the state:
The State submitted to the court that there was an ongoing dispute going on between two parties regarding the festival’s conduct. Furthermore, it was said that despite the Tahsildar presiding over a Peace Committee meeting, no agreement could be accomplished so far. There was also a disagreement about who would maintain the Vinayagar idol inside the shrine. It was provided to the court that to contain the dispute, the Tahsildar issued an order that no one should keep the Voinayagar idol inside the temple. In view of the above-mentioned submissions, it was argued by the State that granting permission for the festival would result in law-and-order issues.
Observations of the court:
After hearing the submissions of both the parties, the court expressed dismay that the temple festival has become a stage for groups to show their strength and perpetuate violence.
“The purpose of a temple is to enable the devotees to worship God for peace and happiness. However, unfortunately, temple festivals are perpetuating violence and it is only becoming a centre stage for groups to show who is powerful in the particular area. There is no devotion involved in conducting these festivals and rather it has become a show of strength by one group or the other. This completely defeats the very purpose of conducting temple festivals,” the court observed in its order. (Para 6)
The Bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh stated that it is a better option to close such temples in order to prevent violent incidents if these celebrations just serve to perpetuate conflict between different groups. The court further added that the whole purpose of having a temple is of no use unless a man drops his ego and goes to the temple to seek blessings.
“If temples are going to perpetuate violence, the existence of temples will have no meaning and in all such cases, it would be better to close down those temples so that the violence can be averted. Till the man drops his ego and goes to the temple seeking for the blessings of the god, the whole purpose of having a temple is of no use,” the court added in its order. (Para 6)
The court also stated that many groups are more concerned in displaying their strength than they are in being devoted to God. In addition to this, the court remarked that although the Police and the Revenue department have essential jobs to do, they frequently spend time and resources trying to settle disagreements between the groups.
“The time and energy of the Police and Revenue department is unnecessarily wasted in resolving dispute between the groups, who are fighting over their right to conduct the temple festival. The Police and Revenue have got other important functions to perform and their time is wasted by trying to resolve the dispute between two groups who have no devotion to God and are more interested in showing their strength over the other. In the considered view of this Court, the precious time of the Revenue and Police cannot be wasted in disputes of this nature,” the court observed in its order. (Para 7)
Thus, the court observed that there was no question of providing police protection and the parties had liberty to conduct festival peacefully without their ego coming to the forefront. The court also directed the police to interfere and take necessary action in case of law-and-order problem and stop the festival from proceeding, if necessary. (Para 8)
Thus, the court dismissed the said petition without imposing any costs.
The complete order may be read here:
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