HC summons officials in plea to bring temple chariot to SC community area
Madurai:
Madras high court
on Wednesday directed the
Karur district collector
, inspector general of police (central zone), Karur superintendent of police, and members of the organising committee to appear before the court in connection with the Sri Aravayee Amman temple festival.A division bench of justice P Velmurugan and justice K K Ramakrishnan was hearing a
public interest litigation
filed by P Ramesh, a member of the
scheduled caste community
from Karur district, seeking a directive to the authorities to bring the chariot of the temple to Nerur North village, where people belonging to the scheduled caste community reside.The petitioner stated that the temple situated in Nerur North village panchayat in Manmangalam taluk belongs to both the scheduled caste and vanniyar communities.
The temple festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi for three days by forming an organising committee.
This year, the festival is scheduled to commence on May 21. The petitioner stated that for the past 15 years, the chariot was not taken to the area where the scheduled caste community resides. When they approached the committee members, they refused to bring the chariot to their area. He mentioned that he submitted representations to the officials, but no action was taken.Hence, the petitioner moved court.A counsel mentioned before the court an alleged discriminatory practice in another temple in Karur district. The petitioner, R Subramani, sought a directive to the authorities to permit the scheduled caste people to offer worship by carrying Mulaipari and Theechatti in the Bhagavathi Amman temple festival in Porunthalur village in Karur district. The petitioner also sought a directive to the authorities to eradicate all forms of discrimination, including practices followed in tea and tiffin shops in the village.The judges directed the Karur collector, inspector general of police (central zone), and Karur superintendent of police to be present before the court.
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