Failing the test of gender
The HinduA strange feature of the >Supreme Court verdict on who can be appointed priests in temples run by >Agama rules is that two sides with contrasting views — the orthodox, who oppose any government interference in the appointment of priests, and some reformist groups that want the posts to be thrown open to all castes — have both welcomed it. A 2006 government order issued by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime allowed “any Hindu” with “requisite qualification and training” to become an > archaka in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu. The >Supreme Court judgment too seems to have ignored gender discrimination in temple worship, in general, and in Agama temples, in particular. While the Supreme Court judgment asserts that “the exclusion of some and inclusion of a particular segment or denomination for appointment of archakas would not violate Article 14 so long as such inclusion/exclusion is not based on criteria of caste, birth or any other constitutionally unacceptable parameter”, the fact that the judgment, while upholding the Agamas, fails to deal in detail the aspect of gender leaves a major lacuna.
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