Plea to allot 'prasadham' contract to specific community quashed by HC

THE Madras High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition praying for orders to the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to ensure that the contract for running the 'prasadham kadai', which sells edible sacred offerings for the god, at the renowned Devarajaswamy temple in Chinna Kancheepuram is given only to men belonging to the Vaishnavite Brahmin community.

- R SIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed that Vaishnavites are a sect worshipping Lord Perumal and they do not constitute a specific caste.

The petition, filed by L Ravi of West Mambalam in Chennai, prayed for the court to quash the auction notice dated July 31, 2025 issued by the HR&CE department, and conduct the auction for awarding tender to the 'prasadham kadai' as per the conditions contained in the original auction notice dated June 3 and July 4.