In the case of C. Soman versus Secretary, Hindu Religious Charitable Department and Others, the Madras High Court ruled that if a person belonging to another religion has faith in a particular Hindu deity, then he cannot be prevented entry into that deity’s temple.
In a public interest litigation (PIL) petition asking for a directive that non-Hindus should not be allowed to participate in the Kumbabishegam festival of Arulmighu Adikesava Perumal Thirukovil at Thiruvattar, Justices PN Prakash and R Hemalatha’s Division Bench noted the same.
One C. Soman filed the petition after seeing an invitation for the Kumbabishegam festival in which the name of a minister—reportedly a Christian—was mentioned.
In addressing the matter, the Court drew attention to the fact that in temples like Nagore Dargah and Velankanni Church, devotional songs performed on various Hindu Gods by Dr KJ Yesudas—a Christian by birth—are played without any objection. Additionally, it was noted that the authorities would not be able to verify each devotee’s religious identity in order to grant him entry into the temple during a public festival like the Kumababishegam of the temple.
In light of this context, the Court noted:
“In our opinion, it will be impossible for the authorities to verify each devotee’s religious identity in order to grant him entry into the temple during a public festival like the Kumababishegam of a temple. Aside from that, it is not possible to stop someone from another religion from believing in a particular Hindu deity or to prevent them from entering a temple.”
As a result, the petition was dismissed by the Court.