Read Time: 04 minutes

A Madras High Court bench of Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice Audikesavalu dismissed a plea seeking opening of Devaraja Swamy temple, Kanchipuram to general public and to perform essential sacred ceremonies as it was being performed prior to the pandemic.
The court took a view that crowding is required to be avoided looking into the threat of even third wave or the recent new variant.

The court on hearing the parties noted that  restrictions were put in place mainly owing to the prevailing situation of COVID-19 and that there was no illegality in them.
The court further opined that such a direction cannot be issued owing to the looming threat of third wave and and in view of the threat of the new variant.

The Public Interest Litigation was filed by one Anantha Desikan seeking the opening of the millennia old Lord Vishnu temple and directions to perform sacred ceremonies as it was immediately before the advent of COVID-19 related restrictions was imposed by the Government.

The plea further sought the directions of the court for resumption of rituals such as Theertham, Thirumanjanam or Abishekam, Shataari, Arandana, Archanai and Poojas, Prasadham distribution, Veda Parayanam and/or Ghosti, Divya Prabandam Parayanam and/or Ghosti, access to Ananthasaras Pushkarani (i.e., temple tank), and regular day to day festivals within the permitere of the temple, without any restrictions.

The plea also sought for removal of embargo on the number of persons who can visit the temple and attend these ceremonies  as long as all persons attending are adequately vaccinated with 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccination and follow social distancing protocols.

The court also made a note that it had in its previous order asked the government to regulate the affairs of the temple tank and not to impose a total bar. The court dismissed the writ petition while recording that State Government itself has given relaxation to the extent permissible after considering the reduced number of cases of covid-19.

Case title: Anantha Desikan Vs The Joint Commissioner HR & CE Kanchipuram