The Kerala High Court ruled that the appointment of santhis (temple priests) cannot be restricted to a specific caste or ancestry. Such caste-based or lineage restrictions do not qualify as essential religious practices under the Constitution of India.
Madras: The Madras High Court ruled that no caste can claim ownership of a temple or administer it based on caste identity. The Court clarified that such a practice is not a protected religious right under the Indian Constitution. Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy dismissed a plea seeking separate administration of a temple based on caste identity.
