Palani Temple Not A Picnic Spot, Cannot Allow Entry Of Non-Hindus Beyond Flagpole: Madras High Court

While directing the state government to install boards indicating that non-Hindus are not permitted entry into the Palani temple beyond the flag pole situated at the entrance of the temple, the Madras High Court today emphasized that temples are not covered under Article 15 of the Constitution and hence restriction of entry for non-Hindus could not be said to be improper. The court also observed that the Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947 was enacted to eradicate the differentiation that existed while permitting temple entry within the Hindu community and the same did not deal with temple entry of non-Hindus. When the authorities suggested that non-Hindus who had faith in the deity and accepted the customs and practices followed in the Hindu Religion be allowed entry, the court, taking note of the practice being followed in the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, directed that the authorities could obtain an undertaking from such persons and enter the same in a register maintained by the temple while permitted entry. The court also added that if such a person was allowed entry into the temple, it would in fact hurt the religious sentiments of a larger number of Hindus and with that, the authorities would be failing.