The Madras High Court ruled that barring SC devotees from temple worship is unconstitutional and undignified. Justice Venkatesh affirmed that all Hindus must have equal access to temples under the law.
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MADRAS: The Madras High Court recently stated that caste and community are human constructs, while God remains impartial, and denying SC individuals the right to pray in temples violates their dignity.
In a crucial ruling reinforcing the principles of equality and religious freedom, the Madras High Court recently addressed a writ petition filed by members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
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The petitioners sought a direction to permit their participation in the upcoming temple car festival scheduled from July 16 to July 31, 2025, and to allow them entry into the temple, which they claimed was being denied based on caste.
During the hearing, the Special Government Pleader informed the Court that the temple in question does not fall under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
Despite this, the Court emphasized that if a temple is open to the general public, it attains the status of a public temple. In such a case, every Hindu, irrespective of caste or community, has the right to enter and worship.
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The Court strongly observed that caste and community are man-made constructs, while God is neutral. Denying SC individuals access to temples is not just unconstitutional, but also a direct insult to their dignity. The Court referred to Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947, which explicitly allows all Hindus the right to enter and worship in any temple, regardless of caste or sect. Any restriction on this right constitutes an actionable offence, and violators can be prosecuted.
The judgment further highlighted that this legislation was the result of historic efforts by social reformers who fought to dismantle caste-based barriers to temple entry. The Court reiterated that in a nation governed by the rule of law, such discrimination is unacceptable.
Accordingly, the Court directed the concerned authorities to ensure unhindered access to the temple and participation in the festival for all Hindus, including those from the SC community. It also ordered that strict action be taken against anyone attempting to obstruct their participation and that law and order be maintained during the event.
The petition was disposed of.
Case Title: Venkatesan Vs The District Collector & Ors.
WP No. 26255 of 2025
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