The Madras High Court directed Arulmigu Kandhasamy Thirukovil to stop printing caste suffixes on festival invitations, ruling that temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department cannot promote caste distinctions, allowing only devotees’ personal names.
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ruled that starting from the next festival, Arulmigu Kandhasamy Thirukovil in Thiruporur, Chengalpattu district, will no longer print caste suffixes on its festival invitations. The court stated that a temple managed under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department cannot endorse practices that promote caste distinctions.
As a result, only the personal names of Ubayatharars devotees who sponsor specific rituals or events during temple festivals can be included in the invitations, without any caste identification.
Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy issued this directive while resolving a writ petition filed by N. Samaran regarding the upcoming Masi Brahmochavam 2026 of Arulmigu Kandhasamy Thirukovil.
The petitioner sought an order from the Commissioner and officials of the HR&CE Department to prevent the inclusion of caste names in the festival invitations. He also requested that only individuals authorized by the temple’s Executive Officer be allowed to act as “Sri Padhamthangis” and carry the idol during the procession.
During the hearing, it was noted that some invitations for the festival featured Ubayatharars’ caste names alongside their personal names. The court indicated that a previous division bench of the High Court had already mandated, in W.P.(MD) No.1697 of 2025, that caste names should not be used in temple invitations.
The Additional Advocate General also referenced a Supreme Court order, which directed that the term “Adi Dravidar” should be used in place of “Oorar.” The court remarked that the objective behind these orders was to eliminate caste discrimination.
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While the state argued that the temple was not responsible for the use of caste names, stating that these were provided by Ubayatharars, the court maintained that, in light of the division bench ruling, such suffixes must be eliminated. However, since the invitations for the current festival had already been printed and distributed, with the event set to commence on February 20, 2026, the court chose not to issue directives for this year.
The court issued forward-looking directives, stating that from the next festival onward, if any Ubayatharar includes a caste suffix with their name, the suffix should be omitted, and only their personal name should be printed on the pamphlets. The request to allow discretion to the Ubayatharars or temple authorities was denied.
The court emphasized that caste exists only in people’s minds and that Article 14 of the Constitution upholds equality. It stated that every authority should aim to abolish caste rather than sustain it, asserting that a festival involving a government department like the HR&CE cannot promote or advertise caste identities.
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Regarding the second aspect of the petition related to “Sri Padhamthangis,” the court opted not to establish any formal rules or direct the creation of a standard operating procedure. It noted that during temple processions, able-bodied devotees typically volunteer to carry the idols, and that enforcing strict regulations through court orders could lead to complications.
Therefore, the matter was left to be managed by the Executive Officers and Trustees in a manner that serves the best interests of the devotees and temple rituals. With these directives in mind, the writ petition was disposed of without any costs.
Case Title: N. Samaran vs. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and Others
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