UNHOLY ACTIONS

THE SC REFUSES TO STAY APPOINTMENT OF NON-BRAHMIN PRIESTS IN TEMPLES. THE STALIN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INTERFERING IN TEMPLE AFFAIRS EVEN THOUGH ARCHAKAS HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF TEMPLES FOR CENTURIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-HINDU POLICY AND ITS PERENNIAL HATRED FOR SANATAN DHARMA ARE EVIDENT

- TN VENKATESAN

The apex court on August 29th issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Government, refusing to stay the latter’s decision to appoint or dismiss Archakas (priests) in Hindu temples in the State. It heard a petition moved by former Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy, seeking to prevent the State Government from appointing Archakas (priests) in the temples there. He challenged the provisions of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 to the extent it granted the State absolute control over appointments and dismissal of archakas (priests) in Hindu temples of the State. Dr Swamy said, “This is getting to be an epidemic”. A bench headed by Justice Hemant Gupta sought a response from the Government and tagged it with a similar petition pending before it.

During the hearing, Dr Swamy sought an interim stay of the appointment order. He argued, “Please give an interim stay on the appointment of Archakas by the State Government, which is an atheistic Government." The plea also challenged the provisions of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 granting the State Government absolute control over the appointment and dismissal of Archakas in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu. It stated that the management and administration of temples, appointments and dismissals of Archakas are a part of the right to practice, profess and propagate religion, protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.

On August 22, the Madras High Court upheld the validity of the Government of Tamil Nadu’s all caste Archakas policy and rules making provision of appointment of people from any caste as