HC admits plea to end caste bar on priests in state-run temples
Bhopal/Jabalpur: A division bench of the MP high court has issued notices to state authorities in response to a petition seeking the removal of caste-based restrictions on the appointment of
priests
in govt-administered
temples
.
The petition also challenged the constitutionality of the Hindu Shrine and Religious Places (Management & Regulation) Act, 2019.
The petition, filed by Anusuchit Jati-Janjati Adhikari Karmachari Sangh secretary MC Ahirwar, stated that under the Act, about 350 temples have been identified for administration by the state govt.
"The spiritual department has also formulated a policy for appointment of priests in these temples.
Persons from only Brahmin caste can be appointed priests under the policy. The priest is paid honorarium from the public exchequer," it stated.
Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel Rameshwar P Singh and Puispendra Shah contended that there were several castes and communities in the Hindu religion, "why only Brahmins should be entitled to become priests in the temples". "A person qualified to be a priest from any caste should be entitled to become a priest," he contended.
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Appearing on behalf of the state govt, deputy advocate general Abhijeet Awasthi raised the issue of locus standi of the petitioner to raise the issue. Being an organisation representing a section of employees, he contended, it has no locus standi to file such a petition.
However, the bench of chief justice Suresh Kumar Kait and justice Vivek Jain, after hearing both the sides, issued notices to respondents, including GAD, religious endowment department, social justice department and PWD.
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