5 arguments made by J Sai Deepak in Sabarimala priest appointment case

On February 25 this year, advocate J Sai Deepak argued before the Kerala High Court about the need to protect the traditions of the Sabarimala temple and not entertain external intervention in its affairs including the appointment of priests. Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa- https://t.co/DZzzQLgfyh pic.twitter.com/dRDpv3wdzO — Sai Deepak J March 12, 2023 While emphasising that the petitions challenging the Travancore Dewaswom Board notification is based on a flawed premise, he said, “The act of appointment is secular, but the considerations that go into the appointment are not secular, they are patently religious and they are patently unsecular but not anti-secular.” J Sai Deepak stated that the Sabarimala temple is not fully controlled by the Government of Kerala and cannot be considered as an extension of the State under provisions made under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. J Sai Deepak calls for the protection of Sabarimala temple traditions “No class of individuals can claim rights better than the community itself,” J Said Deepak reiterated while calling for the protection of the age-old diverse traditions of the tantric temple He further emphasised, “No other religion requires Art. It is an ocean that has several seas and lakes and rivers within it, each of which needs to be protected.” The advocate added, “When this particular temple is considered it needs to be appreciated that this is a class in itself, even within the tantric denomination, therefore there are rights of Article 26 here.” J Sai Deepak also rubbished claims of ‘caste-based reservation’ for the post of the chief priest at Sabarimala temple. “Even the so-called purest of Chitambaram Brahmins cannot apply, Uttarakhandi Brahmins cannot apply, Kashmiri Brahmins cannot apply,” J Sai Deepak reiterated adding that the appointment of Melshanthi is in line with the preservation of spiritual energy at Sabarimala temple.