Chidambaram Temple Row: PIL In Madras HC Against TN Govt Order Allowing Devotees On Sacred Stage

The petitioner said that Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act does not permit the government to interfere with the decision of the temple. 

The PIL was filed by TR Ramesh, President of Temple Worshippers Society and Indic Collective Trust.

A PIL has been filed in Madras High Court against Tamil Nadu government order allowing devotees to climb Kanakasabhai Mandapam, a sacred stage in the temple, to have a darshan of the god. The PIL was filed by TR Ramesh, President of Temple Worshippers Society and Indic Collective Trust.

The petitioner said that Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act does not permit the government to interfere with the decision of the temple. 

Ramesh said that the temple's administration was managed by Tamil-speaking Vedic Saivite community known as "Chidambaram Diskhitars". This has been the norm for almost two thousand years.

In this backdrop, Ramesh said that Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment Department, State of Tamil Nadu issued a government order on May 17, 2022 allowing the general public to climb Kanagasabhai and have darshan at Chidambaran temple. 

Earlier, Madras HC recognised religious denomination of the temple in two separate judgments. In 2022, a writ petition was filed in Madras High Court seeking permission for devotees to climb Kanagasabhai Mandapam. The HC directed HR&CE department, Cuddalore district collector and the secretary of Dikshitar Committee to decide on the matter, as per ANI.

Recently, the temple priests issued a notice stating that devotees would not be allowed atop Kanagasabhai till Aani Thirumanjanam. However, HR&CE Department officials entered the temple and climbed on the stage. This widened the tussel between Chidambaram temple authorities and Tamil Nadu government.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai said, "Every month, the TN HR&CE Department creates an issue. Most recently, there was a two-finger test done on somebody. The Governor highlighted it, State Govt denied it."

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"Every month DMK Govt wants to keep Chidambaram issue highlighted. I am appealing to them, there are thousands of temples which are waiting for their attention," he said.