Latest news with #Agamas
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC forms panel to decide time for Tiruchendur temple consecration
MADURAI: After objections were raised over the date and time fixed for the consecration of Tiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy temple, the vacation bench of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Wednesday appointed a five-member committee to take a fresh decision on the matter. A bench of justices S Srimathy and R Vijayakumar gave the direction while disposing of a batch of petitions filed claiming that the date and time (9 am to 10.30 am on July 7) allegedly chosen by the authorities was 'inauspicious'. They requested the court to direct the authorities to conduct the ceremony at 'Abhijith muhurtham' (between 12.05 pm and 12.45 pm) on the above date. The five-member committee includes one of the petitioners, Sivarama Subramaniya Sasthrigal, as well as Sabarimala Ayyappan Melsanthi (chief priest) and Pillaiyarpatti Pitchai Gurukkal. The committee could have a discussion and the majority decision could be finalised, the judges added. Subramaniya Sasthrigal said in his petition that he was responsible for fixing timings for poojas, festivals and all other events taking place in the Tiruchendur temple for the past 13 years. However, without consulting him, the temple authorities had chosen the date and time for the consecration, which is highly inauspicious and against the Agamas. Claiming that the ceremony is believed to be crucial for the welfare of the country, state and leaders and choosing an inauspicious time would have negative ramifications, he suggested the authorities change at least the timing to 'Abhijit Muhurtham'.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
SC allows TN to appoint priests in non-Agama temples in state
Amid the ongoing debate sparked by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, about the extent to which the state can interfere in a community's religious affairs, the Supreme Court has allowed the Tamil Nadu government to appoint 'archakas' (priests) to the state's temples not governed by Agama tradition. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal, in an order dated May 14 and made available Tuesday, allowed the state to fill the vacancies in non-Agama temples after a committee set up on the orders of the Madras HC completes its task of identifying the number of Agama temples in the state. The state said the identification exercise is expected to be completed within three months. Agama temples are built and maintained according to ritual and traditions outlined in the Agamas, a collection of Hindu scriptures. On August 22, 2022, while hearing a batch of petitions by the All India Adi Saiva Sivacharyargal Seva Sangam and others, the HC had directed the state to constitute a five-member committee to 'identify the temples constructed as per Agamas' so that the archakas can be appointed accordingly and as per the the SC's 1972 order in Seshammal and Others vs State of Tamil Nadu. In the Seshammal judgment, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the SC had said the appointment of archakas was a secular function. Incidentally, the Centre has cited this judgment in its counter-affidavit filed before the SC justifying the 2025 amendments to the Waqf Act — pointing out that the top court had said 'that because the archaka owes his appointment to a purportedly secular authority [the board or trustees], the act of his appointment would be essentially secular and merely because the said archakas perform a religious function it cannot be said that the appointment is a part of a religious practice or a matter of religion.' The petitioners before the HC had challenged the TN government's decision to appoint those who had undergone a one-year certificate course for archakas, in the state's temples. They contended this went against rituals outlined in the Agamas. In its order, the HC had also said that the appointment of archakas in Agama temples can be challenged as and when the state makes those appointments, according to Advocate G Balaji, lawyer for a petitioner. This was challenged before the SC, with the petitioners telling the top court that despite rulings by the SC and the Madras HC, the state government, 'in scant regard for law, are now attempting to appoint non-believers as archakas, only with a view to destroy the temples in Tamil Nadu'. They added, 'it is well settled that a secular government does not have the power to interfere with the essential religious practices, as such right is well protected under the Constitution of India. Agamas undoubtedly pertains to an essential religious practice, which cannot be tampered with by a secular government'. Issuing notice in the matter on September 25, 2023, the SC had ordered status quo regarding the appointment of archakas in Agama temples. The matter was taken up again for hearing by the bench of Justices Sundresh and Bindal on May 14, 2025. Appearing for a writ petitioner, Senior Advocate Guru Krishnakumar objected to the appointment of one of the nominated members in the identification committee. The TN government then assured that the official 'would be replaced with a non-controversial person'. Ananthakrishnan G. is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. He has been in the field for over 23 years, kicking off his journalism career as a freelancer in the late nineties with bylines in The Hindu. A graduate in law, he practised in the District judiciary in Kerala for about two years before switching to journalism. His first permanent assignment was with The Press Trust of India in Delhi where he was assigned to cover the lower courts and various commissions of inquiry. He reported from the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India during his first stint with The Indian Express in 2005-2006. Currently, in his second stint with The Indian Express, he reports from the Supreme Court and writes on topics related to law and the administration of justice. Legal reporting is his forte though he has extensive experience in political and community reporting too, having spent a decade as Kerala state correspondent, The Times of India and The Telegraph. He is a stickler for facts and has several impactful stories to his credit. ... Read More
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court requests panel to identify Agamic temples in Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) requested a committee formed by the Madras High Court to identify Agamic temples as against non-Agamic temples in Tamil Nadu in three months. A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal said once the Agamic temples are identified, status quo must prevail and no appointments of archakars (priests) must be made to them for the time being. 'Whatever the committee identifies as Agamic temples… don't touch it,' Justice Sundresh addressed senior advocate Dushyant Dave and Tamil Nadu Advocate General P.S. Raman. However, once the identification of Agamic temples are over, the State may go ahead and fill up the existing vacancies for archakars in the non-Agamic temples. The apex court said the committee headed by former Madras High Court judge Justice M. Chockalingam would conduct the identification exercise. One of its members, M.P. Sathyavel Murugan, against whom objections were raised, would not be part of the committee, the Bench recorded. The court further directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Tamil Nadu to fill up the existing vacancies of archakars and maniyams (temple workforce) in Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple. Advocate Elephant Rajendran, who represented an intervention highlighting the vacancies in the Rameswaram Temple, said the appointments must be made in accordance with the customs and traditions. The petitioner, Srirangam Koil Miras Kainkaryaparagal Matrum Athanai Sarntha Koilgalin Miraskainkaryaparargalin Nalasangam, represented by senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, said Agamic temples were very few in numbers. The petitioners were not concerned with the non-Agamic temples. Mr. Dave said Agamic temples were the most important temples. Mr. Dave and Mr. Raman argued that the petitioners have even challenged the stipend given to intern archakars. 'We [State] only want them to be trained for their religious duties,' Mr. Dave submitted. The court scheduled the next hearing in September 2025. In November 2023, the apex court had refused to vacate or modify its earlier interim order of status quo on priesthood in temples governed by age-old Agamas (post-Vedic scripture conveying ritual knowledge). The status quo order had been passed on the basis of a series of petitions alleging that the Tamil Nadu government was attempting to appoint 'non-believers' as archakars, contrary to the Agamas. The State had countered that appointments were a secular function entitled to the government. It had maintained that its intention was to have 'Hindus, irrespective of caste and creed, to be trained and qualified in order to be appointed as archakars under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department'.
