Non-Devotional Songs Should Not Be Played Inside Temple Precincts : Madras High Court In Plea Against Singing Of Movie Songs

The Madras High Court has asked various Temple authorities to ensure that only devotional songs are played by the orchestra that it may engage during any temple festival. 

Justice D.Bharatha Chakravarthy was dealing with a petition stating that movie songs being sung inside temples is inappropriate. The court observed that orchestra arranged by the temple should ensure that only devotional songs are played inside the temple and should avoid playing non-devotional songs. 

“During any temple festival, if orchestra is arranged on behalf of the Temple authorities are on behalf of devotees and the same is done within the precincts of the temple, care must be taken to render only devotional songs and not non-devotional songs," the court observed. 

The court was hearing a plea by Venkatesh Sowrirajan, seeking directions to the Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department and the Executive Officer of the Veezhi Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Puducherry, to not allow any event involving singing of cinema songs, dancing for such cinema songs or any Non Religious or Non devotional events inside the premises of the temple. A direction was also sought to appoint trustees to the temple. The petitioner argued that it was not appropriate for the orchestra to play cinema songs when the event is happening inside temple premises. 

The Additional Government Pleader assured the court that care would be taken to ensure that the orchestra plays only devotional songs as long as the programme was happening inside the temple premises. 

The court then directed the authorities to ensure that only devotional songs, and no other songs are played inside the temple premises. 

With respect to appointment of trustees, the court noted that it was settled law that the HR&CE authorities could not keep appointment of trustees pending for a long period of time. The court thus directed the authorities to ensure that trustees are appointed to the temple as expeditiously as possible as per law. 

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr.Venkatesh Sowrirajan Party-in-Person

Counsel for Respondents: Mr.R.Sreedhar, Additional Government Pleader, (Pondy)

Case Title: Venkatesh Sowrirajan v. The Union Territory of Puducherry and Others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 90

Case No: W.P.No.6227 of 2025