Latest news with #Vaikasifestival
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Time of India
HC limits chariot route over caste-based complaint
Madurai: Hearing a plea complaining that the chariot procession during the Vaikasi festival at Sri Aravayee Amman Temple in Senapadi village in Karur district is not taken to the area where people belonging to the scheduled caste community reside, the Madras high court , as an interim measure, directed that the chariot be taken only to the border of Senapadi village for people to offer prayers and not on a procession to other villages during the festival this year. Pursuant to the earlier direction of the court, the Karur district collector, inspector general of police (central zone), Karur superintendent of police, and members of the organising committee were present before the court. The committee members submitted that the petitioner P Ramesh, belonging to the scheduled caste community, has no right to claim the procession of the chariot. The private temple belongs to three hamlets, namely, Senapadi, Mallapalayam, and Muniyappanur, and they alone have their right of worship. A division bench of justice P Velmurugan and justice K K Ramakrishnan took note of the fact that the officials are unable to collect and provide accurate information about the rights of the petitioner. Considering the fact that the festival is scheduled for May 21, the judges issued the following directions as an interim measure: The committee is permitted to conduct the festival from May 21 to 23, and they have to take the chariot up to the Senapadi hamlet border for people to offer 'padayal' to the deity. The chariot procession from Senapadi to Mallapalayam and Muniyappanur villages is not allowed in the ensuing festival. The judges reserved orders in the case to pass detailed orders and directed the authorities to file a report with specific findings about the claim of the petitioner. The petitioner stated that during the second day of the festival, a chariot of the temple would start from Senapadi and reach the Nerur Mariamman Temple, where the people belonging to the scheduled caste community would perform puja. However, for the past 15 years, the chariot was not taken to that area. Hence, he moved court seeking a direction to the authorities to bring the chariot of Sri Aravayee Amman Temple to the area where people of the scheduled caste community reside.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- The Hindu
HC summons Collectors on matters pertaining to ensuring participation of Scheduled Caste people in temple festivals
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday summoned Karur and Pudukkottai Collectors to appear before the court while hearing matters that sought directions to the authorities concerned to ensure the participation of Scheduled Caste people at temple festivals in the two districts. A Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and K.K. Ramakrishnan directed Karur Collector, Inspector General of Police (Central Zone), Karur Superintendent of Police and other officials to be present before the court while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by P. Ramesh of Nerur North in Manmangalam in Karur district. The petitioner said that the Vaikasi festival at Aravayee Amman Temple was scheduled to be held from May 21 to May 23. He said that for the past 15 years the temple car was not entering the area of the Scheduled Caste people, even after representations were made to the authorities in this regard. He sought a direction to the authorities to resolve the issue between the Scheduled Caste people and people belonging to a dominant intermediate Caste and take appropriate action to bring Aravayee Amman Temple car to the area of the Scheduled Caste people for the festival. The court posted the matter for hearing on Thursday. A mention was made before the court with regard to the clashes reported between the Scheduled Caste people and people belonging to a Most Backward Community in Vadakadu in Pudukkottai district. The petitioner S. Shanmugam of Karambakudi in Pudukkottai district said that a mob of more than 300 people belonging to the Most Backward Community had attacked the Scheduled Caste settlement injuring people and destroying their properties. He sought a direction to the authorities to ensure that the Scheduled Caste people were allowed to enter the temple and worship at the Mariamman temple in Vadakadu. He also sought a thorough investigation into the incident and adequate compensation be paid to the victims belonging to the Scheduled Caste. The court directed Pudukottai Collector, Inspector General of Police (Central Zone), Pudukkottai Superintendent of Police and other officials to be present before the court. Another mention was made before the court with regard to permitting the Scheduled Caste people to participate in Bhagavathi Amman temple festival in Porunthalur in Karur district. The petitioner, R. Subramani of Mettupatti in Kulithalai in Karur district, said that the Scheduled Caste people should be permitted to carry Mulaipari and Theechatti processions inside the temple. He also sought a direction to the authorities to end all forms of caste discrimination including the practices followed in tea and tiffin shops. The court directed Karur Collector, Inspector General of Police (Central Zone), Karur Superintendent of Police and other officials to be present before the court. The court posted the matters for hearing on Thursday.
