The Madras High Court today directed the authorities concerned to allow members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community to enter the Sri Maha Mariyamman temple at Pasumbalur village in Perambalur district and take part in the temple festival.
The direction was given by Justice M Sathyanarayanan to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, Perambalur District Collector and the temple authorities on a plea by K Subramani, who sought it for the authorities to allow members of the SC community to offer their prayers at the temple on the occasion of the festival this month.
"In the light of the rival submissions made and the facts and circumstances, this court directs the authorities concerned to ensure that the people belonging to the Scheduled Caste community are allowed to enter the temple and worship the presiding deity during the festival to be held till September 16," the judge said.
Subramani, a Vanniar community leader, had alleged that the temple authorities were not allowing members of the Parayar (SC) community to take part in the festival which commenced on September 1.
He had also referred to clashes between members of the SC community and other communities during the temple festival on previous occasions.
One Katta Arumugam was brutally murdered and another Rajkumar received serious injuries on two occasions during the clashes in the past, he had said.
A representation seeking permission for SC community members to enter the temple during the festival was submitted to the authorities but it was not considered, he had submitted.
The judge made it clear that "people belonging to the upper caste as well as the Scheduled Caste shall realise the solemness of the occasion and shall extend maximum co-operation to the revenue as well as the police administration for the smooth conduct of the temple festival".
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