Madras High Court Asks HR&CE To Take Action Against Trustee, Employees Who Shot Instagram Reel Inside Temple

Justice M Dhandapani wondered how the temple trustee herself could engage in such acts inside the temple, which is visited by hundreds of devotees. Noting that the temple trustee and the employees should not have behaved this way, the judge opined that appropriate action should be initiated against them.

The court thus asked the Commissioner and the Executive Officer of the temple to submit an action taken report by October 29.

“How can the trustee and the temple employees themselves make a mockery by shooting comic videos that too right in front of the picture of the deity. The presiding deity will lose respect if such things are allowed to happen,” the judge remarked orally.

The court was hearing a petition by Jayaprakash, a resident of Nagapattinam, seeking directions to the HR & CE Commissioner & the temple Executive Officer to take action against the trustee based on his representation.

In his petition, Jayaprakash pointed out that on April 14, 2024, an embarrassing incident occurred in the temple when the temple trustee Valarmathi along with a crew of 12 women, created and performed a dance video for social media in front of the temple's sanctum. He added that the incident was widely reported in the media and had offended the sentiments of the devotees.

Jayaprakash added that despite issuing notifications prohibiting the use of mobile phones in and around the temple, the trustee and her crew ignored the directions and proceeded to film the video. He also submitted that the dance video was well planned as the crew members were dressed uniformly and performed in a synchronized manner. He thus submitted that the action of the trustee and the employees was against the principles and values of the temple.

He also submitted that since the trustee was highly influential within her community, neither the temple management nor the executive officer tool any action against her. He submitted that the devotees have unequivocally called for changing the leadership in the temple to protect the temple interest and to ensure its proper functioning according to the community's values and expectations.

Since no action was taken based on the petitioner's representations, he approached the High Court for suitable actions.

Case Title: K Jayaprakash v The Commissioner and Others

Case No: WP No. 30474 of 2024