Temple Priests should be Appointed based on HC verdict
Based on the high court verdict, the tamil Nadu government should take immediate action to appoint those who have completed their priestly training as priests in their suitable Agama temples, the leader of the Leopards Party, Thol Thirumavalavan, has insisted.
In a statement issued in this regard, he said, "Anyone who knows the appropriate Agama and rituals can be appointed as a priest in Agama temples in tamil Nadu. The madras high court has ruled that the administrative officer of the temple has the authority to receive applications and publish advertisements.
We welcome this historic judgment on behalf of the Liberation Tigers of India. Based on the verdict, we request the government of tamil Nadu to take immediate steps to appoint those who have completed priestly training as priests in suitable Agama temples.
In the year 2018, the administrative officer of the temple published an advertisement that eligible people can apply to work as priests in the salem Sugawaneswarar Swamy temple. muthu Subramania Gurus, who was the priest of the temple, filed a case in the madras high court against it. His family has been the priest in the temple for generations; Therefore, he requested to continue as a priest.
In 1970, the tamil Nadu government enacted an Act to remove caste barriers in temples and to appoint priests on the basis of merit. In a related case (Seshammal & others Versus State of tamilnadu (1972), the supreme court held that 'appointment of a priest is a non-religious act' and therefore the state can do it; anyone properly trained in the Agamas and rituals can be appointed as a priest.
In another judgment in the case of "N. Adityan - v. Travancore Devaswam Board (2002)", the supreme court rejected the argument that only Brahmins should perform pooja and said that anyone with training can do it.
Madras high court referring to the above two judgments, [Muthusubramanya Gurus -vs- Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowment Department and others; [ W.P No 3997 of 2018 & WMP Nos 4916 and 4948 of 2018 & 12136 of 2022; Date- 26.06.2023 ]- In the case, it has been clarified that the government can appoint as priests those who are trained in Agamas, rituals etc.
As the 'committee' appointed to ascertain whether a temple is an Agama temple or not is not functioning at present, till such ascertainment a temple cannot exist without an archachar. So if it is clear under which Agama a temple is under, the high court has made it clear that anyone trained in that Agama can be appointed as a priest in the temple.
This is the success of Karunanidhi's legal initiative based on the recommendations of the "L.Ilayaperumal Committee" report. It is not an exaggeration to consider this as a gift to both personalities who will be celebrating their centenary in june 2023.
This verdict is a victory for Karunanidhi's efforts. Based on this verdict, we request the tamil Nadu government to take immediate action to appoint those who have received priest training in suitable temples and to open additional priest training schools," he said in the statement.
In a statement issued in this regard, he said, "Anyone who knows the appropriate Agama and rituals can be appointed as a priest in Agama temples in tamil Nadu. The madras high court has ruled that the administrative officer of the temple has the authority to receive applications and publish advertisements.
We welcome this historic judgment on behalf of the Liberation Tigers of India. Based on the verdict, we request the government of tamil Nadu to take immediate steps to appoint those who have completed priestly training as priests in suitable Agama temples.
In the year 2018, the administrative officer of the temple published an advertisement that eligible people can apply to work as priests in the salem Sugawaneswarar Swamy temple. muthu Subramania Gurus, who was the priest of the temple, filed a case in the madras high court against it. His family has been the priest in the temple for generations; Therefore, he requested to continue as a priest.
In 1970, the tamil Nadu government enacted an Act to remove caste barriers in temples and to appoint priests on the basis of merit. In a related case (Seshammal & others Versus State of tamilnadu (1972), the supreme court held that 'appointment of a priest is a non-religious act' and therefore the state can do it; anyone properly trained in the Agamas and rituals can be appointed as a priest.
In another judgment in the case of "N. Adityan - v. Travancore Devaswam Board (2002)", the supreme court rejected the argument that only Brahmins should perform pooja and said that anyone with training can do it.
Madras high court referring to the above two judgments, [Muthusubramanya Gurus -vs- Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowment Department and others; [ W.P No 3997 of 2018 & WMP Nos 4916 and 4948 of 2018 & 12136 of 2022; Date- 26.06.2023 ]- In the case, it has been clarified that the government can appoint as priests those who are trained in Agamas, rituals etc.
As the 'committee' appointed to ascertain whether a temple is an Agama temple or not is not functioning at present, till such ascertainment a temple cannot exist without an archachar. So if it is clear under which Agama a temple is under, the high court has made it clear that anyone trained in that Agama can be appointed as a priest in the temple.
This is the success of Karunanidhi's legal initiative based on the recommendations of the "L.Ilayaperumal Committee" report. It is not an exaggeration to consider this as a gift to both personalities who will be celebrating their centenary in june 2023.
This verdict is a victory for Karunanidhi's efforts. Based on this verdict, we request the tamil Nadu government to take immediate action to appoint those who have received priest training in suitable temples and to open additional priest training schools," he said in the statement.