News

Volume 4 Issue 9 - May 01, 2006

South D.L.U. files petition against Culture and Religious Endowments Department, T.N.

DNIS News Network - Rajiv Rajan, South Zone Regional Coordinator, Disability Law Unit, and his colleague Meenakshi have filed a Public Interest Litigation against Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Tamil Nadu, in Chennai High Court for violation of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.

In September 2005 the duo were denied entry into the Sriranganathan Temple premises in Srirangam by the security personnel deployed at the temple as well as the temple management personnel, on grounds of one person using calipers and the other a wheel chair.

Article 25(2) (b) of the Constitution speaks about throwing open the Hindu Religious Institutions of public character to all classes and sections of Hindus which will provide for social welfare and reform.

Also the right to enter a temple is guaranteed under Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Act 1947. Section 3 says, “ Every Hindu irrespective of the Caste or sect to which he belongs, shall be entitled to enter any Hindu Temple and offer worship therein in the same manner and to the same extent as Hindu in general or any section of Hindus do.”

Thus the denial of the persons with locomotors disability to enter any temple is in violation of the provision of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Act 1947.