High Court rejects caste claims over temples

The Madras high court has ruled that no caste can claim a right over the administration of a temple, holding that caste does not constitute a religious denomination and that appointments made without reference to caste cannot be faulted.

- HD Bureau

The judgment affirms the authority of the state to manage public temples in a manner consistent with constitutional principles of equality and secular governance.

The observations were made by Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy while dismissing a petition that challenged the appointment of nonhereditary trustees to the Arulmigu Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple at Belur in Salem district.

The court upheld the order of the Tamil Nadu government appointing five trustees, rejecting the plea that members of a particular caste had a preferential right to administer the shrine or perform ceremonial roles.