HC refuses to interfere in Tiruchendur temple consecration timings fixed by experts in Agama principles
A Division Bench of Justices S. Srimathy and R. Vijayakumar said considering that experts in Agama principles arrived at an opinion with regard to the timings of the consecration to be held from 6 a.m. to 6.47 a.m., on July 7, the court was not inclined to interfere in the timings.
However, the court made it clear it was constrained to form an expert committee only due to the fact that the Vidhayahar of the temple had given three different Pattolais without mentioning that the first two Pattolais were draft in nature.
The court upheld the formation of the expert committee and the timings fixed by them and observed that this should not be taken as a precedent in future. Till a decision is rendered by a civil court, the supremacy of the Vidhayahar in relation to religious matters of the temple has to be protected, the court observed.
Therefore, the temple is directed to the earlier procedure of seeking opinion from the Vidhayahar through written communication alone and the Vidhayahar should indicate whether it is draft or final Pattolai while giving opinion and fixing the timing, the court said while disposing of review applications.
Meanwhile, a Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete heard a public interest litigation petition filed by A. Viyanarasu of Thoothukudi district who sought a direction to the authorities to conduct the consecration of Tiruchendur temple by using Tamil spiritual mantras and hymns equally. The court directed the petition to be tagged along with other similar petitions.
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