The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Villupuram): The Madras High Court has mandated the resumption of daily religious rites at the Dharmaraja Droupadi Amman temple located in Melpathi village, Villupuram district, albeit under strict conditions. The temple, which has been closed since June 2023 following a discord rooted in caste disagreements, is to be accessed solely by the priest for the purpose of conducting daily pujas, as decreed by Justice N. Anand Venkatesh.
The court’s directive emerged from interim orders on petitions filed by local residents G. Gandhi and Raji last year, challenging the decision by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to shut down the temple after a confrontation ensued between the Vanniyar and Dalit communities regarding the latter’s entry into the shrine.
During the court proceedings, concerns were raised about the potential escalation of law and order issues if the temple were to be reopened, particularly in the sensitive backdrop of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, which demanded significant attention from the state’s law enforcement.
Nevertheless, the Advocate General P.S. Raman, alongside the State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohamed Jinnah, proposed allowing only the ritualistic puja to be performed daily under police supervision to ensure no unauthorized entry occurs. This suggestion was accepted by the court, which instructed the Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department in Villupuram to appoint a priest for this purpose.
Emphasizing the need for peace and the importance of religious practices, the court stipulated that no devotees are to enter the premises and that any incidents should be immediately reported. The matter is set for further review post the Lok Sabha election conclusion, with a next hearing scheduled for June 10, ensuring that the sacred traditions are maintained while addressing the underlying social tensions.
