Only devotional songs can be played within the premises of Hindu temples and not other kinds of music such as movie songs, observed the Madras High Court recently [Venkatesh Sowrirajan v. Union Territory of Puducherry and ors]..In his February 24 ruling, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy observed that the counsel representing the concerned government authorities also undertook to ensure that only devotional songs would be played within the premises of temples. The Court recorded this submission and proceeded to order as follows:"During any temple festival, if orchestra is arranged on behalf of the Temple authorities (or) on behalf of devotees and the same is done within the precincts of the temple, care must be taken to render only devotional songs and not non-devotional songs.".The Court was dealing with a plea filed by a temple devotee from Puducherry named Venkatesh Sowrirajan. Sowrirajan raised a grievance that when orchestras were arranged at the Veezhi Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Tirumalairayan Pattinam, Puducherry, movie songs were also being played. He argued that it was not appropriate to sing such songs inside the temple. .Another concern raised was that the Temple was left without any trustees to administer it for a long time.The Court criticised such a state of affairs and ordered the authorities to take immediate corrective steps."It is settled law that the authorities cannot be keeping the temple without appointment of Trustees for a long period. Therefore, the authorities shall take steps for appointment of the trustees as expeditiously as possible in the manner known to law in respect of the said temple," the Court said..The petitioner, Venkatesh Sowrirajan, appeared as party-in-person.Additional Government Pleader R Sreedhar represented the Puducherry government and other authorities..[Read Order]
