All equal before God, no caste has exclusive rights to be temple trustee or donor: Madras High Court

All persons are human beings before God, observed the Madras High Court recently while dismissing a petition which sought directions so that only people from one particular caste were appointed as temple trustees at the Arulmigu Karneeswarar Thirukoil in Chennai. .Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy recounted that he had already held in an earlier case that caste is not a religious denomination and that no caste can claim any exclusive right to administer a Hindu temple."Before God, all persons are human beings and therefore, there cannot be any discrimination based on caste. Accordingly, the grievance of the petitioner cannot be entertained by this Court and cannot be countenanced," the Court added..The petitioner before the Court was the secretary of a caste-based organisation. He pointed out that earlier, the appointment of non-hereditary temple trustees was only from a particular caste, namely from the Sengunthar community. However, in April 2025, a notification was issued inviting applications from members of the general public.The Court noted that the petitioner had also sought directions so that only people from Senguthar caste were allowed to elect temple trustees..The Court, however, refused to issue any such direction and dismissed the petition. "If religion and worship are for the benefit of the soul, Swami Vivekananda said 'The soul has neither sex nor caste nor imperfection.' Well-known poet Bharathidasan said, இருட்டறையில் உள்ளதடா உலகம் சாதி இருக்கின்றதென்பானும் இருக்கின்றானே'. Dr.B.R. Ambedkar also stated that caste exists only in the mind and it has no physical existence," the judge observed in the April 29 ruling. .Advocate L Dhamodharan appeared for the petitioner. Government Advocate K Karthikeyan represented the respondent-State authorities. .No caste can claim ownership of a temple: Madras High Court.Untouchability takes many forms in India: Court.In another case decided the same day, Justice Chakravarthy took critical note of a litigant's grievance that he was not being allowed to donate to a temple as an Ubayadharar (temple donor) at the Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Udanurai Arulmigu Thirunageswarar Swamy temple in Kundrathur, because of his caste. The judge remarked that such practices reflected a form of untouchability, which cannot be permitted."In this country, untouchability is a practice in various ways. Not accepting the donation of a person perceived to be an inferior human being, is another form ... Already, this court has held that caste cannot be a criteria in front of God ... if a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, he is not permitted to be Ubayadharar in a temple, then, that would also be violative of Article 17 of the Constitution of India," the Court held.The Court proceeded to direct the relevant authorities to consider a representation made by the petitioner on April 22, so that people from any community can make temple donations."It is made clear that the orders in general can be passed with reference to the particular temple without particular reference to the ensuing festival alone," the Court clarified. Advocate NS Suganthan appeared for the petitioner. Government Advocate (HR&CE) K Karthikeyan represented the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. Special Government Pleader S Senthil Murugan represented the District Collector of Kancheepuram. .[Read Orders]