Darshan of deities should be same for those pay and those who don’t, says Madras HC

The high court was hearing a PIL that seeks to regulate the system of granting advantages to ‘paid darshan’ ticket holders at certain prominent temples in the state.

The Madras high court on Monday held that though shorter queues in temples are for those who buy tickets for darshan, the distance from where public shall offer prayers to deities should be the same for all devotees notwithstanding whether they paid for darshan or not.

The Madras high court (PTI File Photo)

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and justice M Sunder gave the direction on a public interest litigation (PIL) by Indic Collective Trust seeking a direction to Hindu Religious and Charitable Trust to regulate the system of granting better advantages to those “paid darshan” ticket holders in the Srivilliputhur Sri Andal temple, Arulmighu Ekambaranathar temple at Kancheepuram and Arulmigu Oppiliappan Temple at Thirunagesaram.

Irrespective of paid or unpaid, viewing of the deity shall be provided from the same distance to all, the court said.

The trust submitted that a student visited these temples recently and was under the presumption that all devotees, including those who paid for entry, would be allowed to see the idol for an equal duration and the same distance as those who didn’t.

However it was found that these temples were providing special privileges to those who paid for darshan.

They were allowed to get closer to the idol in violation of the fundamental rights under Article 14 and 25 of Constitution, the trust contended.