Seeking To Declare Lord Muruga As 'Tamil God' Would Damage Federal And Secular Fabric Of This Great Nation : Madras High Court

The Madras High Court(Madurai bench) has dismissed a petition seeking to the direct the State Government to issue an order declaring Lord Muruga a Tamil God, saying  it "would cause damage to the very fibre of the federal and secular nature of this great Nation".

The preamble of the Constitution emphasizes on the secular nature of the Country, the Court said in the order passed on February 4.

"The petitioner may have a justifiable reason to treat Lord Muruga as the Lord of the Tamil Language. It is for him to do so. However, as a State such a request is not feasible for consideration", the High Court observed.

"The preamble of the Constitution emphasizes on the secular nature of the Country. Seeking a declaration, as sought for, would cause damage to the very fibre of the federal and secular nature of this great Nation. The petitioner may have a justifiable reason to treat Lord Murugaas the Lord of the Tamil Language. It is for him to do so. However, as a State such a request is not feasible for consideration".

A division bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and S Ananthi observed that Tamil literature has been enriched by works praising Hindu Gods.

But "seeking to declare one God as the sole representative of the Tamil language would mean that other literary writings in praise of Gods other than Lord Muruga cannot be recognised."

The petitioner, a lawyer named Thirumurugan, had referred to a statement purportedly made by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to the effect that he old literatures only recognized Lord Muruga identifying himself as the Tamil God.

However, the Court said that the statement of the Chief Minister has to be understood in the context of declaring a public holiday for Thaipoosam. Even otherwise, no reliance can be placed on the statement, the court added.

"Tamil Language has been enriched by the contribution of various literary personalities. Language has been developed by the praise of God. Hinduism has got its Gods. Seeking to declare one God as the sole representative of the Tamil Language would mean that other literary writings in praise of Gods other than Lord Muruga cannot be recognized. In such view of the matter, the writ petition is not entertained," the Court said while dismissing the petition.

(Cover image from here)

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