Acting Chief Justice R. Mahadevan has accepted the petition and issued notices to the State government and the HR&CE department.
CHENNAI: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Madras High Court seeking the removal of idols of Sai Baba from temples that fall under the administration of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, directly or indirectly.
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Acting Chief Justice R. Mahadevan has accepted the petition and issued notices to the State government and the HR&CE department.
According to the petitioner, several temples under the HR&CE Department have installed statues of Sai Baba, which, in their view, goes against traditional Hindu worship principles and practices.
The petitioner argues that temples are dedicated exclusively to deities and not to individuals regarded as godmen. The counsel for the petitioner stated,
“I request the removal of all idols of godmen, including Sai Baba, from temples under HR&CE control. Private temples may continue as they choose, but should HR&CE temples feature idols of godmen?”
Additionally, the petition highlights that Sai Baba, recognized by many as a saint, belonged to the Muslim faith. The argument asserts that placing his idol in Hindu temples managed by HR&CE contradicts the Agamas, which are ancient scriptures governing temple rituals and deity worship in Hinduism.
Case Title: D Sureshbabu v. The Principal Secretary to Government and Ors
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