Consider Installation Of Biometric Device In Tiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Says Madras HC [Read Order]

Further, no one should be allowed to enter into the temple for special worship without buying any ticket, like that no unauthorised Poojaries are permitted to enter into the temple for arranging special worship to the devotees, said the bench

The Madras High Court has asked the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR& CE) authorities to consider installation of biometric device for the entries of staffs, including poojaries, into Tiruchendur Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tuticorin.

A bench of Justice MV Muralidaran and Justice T Krishnavalli was considering a public interest litigation filed by devotee RS Kalyanasundaram who had sought introduction of biometric device so that no unauthorized poojaries are permitted to enter the temple for arranging special worship to the devotees.

The court also took serious notice of the submission made by Kalyanasundaram that unauthorized persons called themselves as Iyers, formed a syndicate among themselves and used to stand in the entrance of the temple and transacted with the devotees to take them to the idols for worship.

The bench, referring to Agamas, said: No where it is stated that syndicate is to be formed to arrange worship on illegal methods. This Court is constrained to come down heavily upon the so called Iyers or Poojaries not appointed by the Department as their act to bring the devotees without buying any tickets is unlawful and no hesitation to hold that they must be penalised.

The bench further observed: “Once a prescribed ticket is selling by the temple authority for special worship everyone is liable to buy the same by paying the prescribed fare. Apart from that, the devotees are also duty bound to buy tickets for special worships, if they want, from the ticket counter as per their economic status and they would not fall as pray to the unlawful demand or arrangement for worship by the unauthorised Poojaries.”

The court issued following directions:

• The respondents are directed to ensure that all the poojas are performing only by the legally appointed poojaries of the temple;


• The respondents 1 and 2 are directed to ensure that all the devotees are to be equally treated by the temple authorities without any differences between the poor and rich since all are equal before the lord almighty;


• The respondents are hereby directed to consider the installation of biometric device for the entries of the staffs including legally appointed Iyers/ poojaries into Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin District by assessing the feasibility of the same;


• The respondents are directed to warn the legally appointed poojaries strictly they should not demand any more money from the devotees for special poojas;


• The 2nd respondent, namely Joint Commissioner of H.R.& C.E., Tiruchendur area shall make surprise visit to the temple weekly once and verify spot visit as to whether the non-appointee Iyers are performing the Poojas and enquire the devotees on the day and obtain oral or written statement from them about any improper action is continuing in the temple and the Joint Commissioner, is directed to file his monthly report before this Court;


• The 2nd respondent is directed to exhibit written signboards in and around the temple premises and also the important places of Tiruchendur in order to sensitize the devotees not to engage the unauthorised poojaries either to get entrance into the temple or for poojas by paying special amount except the fare fixed by the temple authorities for which receipts are to be given by the temple; and


• The respondents are directed to ensure that all the devotees will get toilet and drinking water facilities with good sanitation apart from staying places till their worships are completed.