The Madras High Court has affirmed that the right to worship is a fundamental right, allowing a devotee to perform rituals at a temple in Karur district on the eve of Tamil New Year (Puthandu). This decision comes despite the fact that the temple has not hosted the festival for the last twenty years and concerns regarding potential disruptions to public order were raised.

Justice L Victoria Gowri presided over the case brought forth by a devotee named Muniyappan, who requested police authorization to carry out pujas at the Sri Bagavathy Amman Alaya Chithira Thiruvizha. The court emphasized that while the pujas could proceed, it insisted that no individual or group should assert any claim to “first honour” at the event.

The court’s ruling, issued on April 9, stated, “The right to worship is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of India, and therefore, there are no barriers for the petitioner and the local villagers to conduct poojas at the Sri Bagavathy Amman Alaya Chithira Thiruvizha located in K P Kulam, Renganathapuram Village, Krishnarayapuram, Karur District.”

During the proceedings, government advocate M Sakthi Kumar noted that the festival had not been celebrated for two decades and expressed concerns that allowing the pujas could lead to disturbances in the area. In contrast, the petitioner’s attorney, M Yesudasan, clarified that the request was not for a full temple festival but simply for permission to hold pujas on Tamil New Year’s Eve between 7 am and 5 pm.

Tamil New Year, also recognized as Puthandu, signifies the commencement of the Tamil calendar and is celebrated throughout the state with enthusiasm and reverence. Known as Varusha Pirappu, it occurs on the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai, with this year’s celebration taking place on April 14, coinciding with the Sankranti moment at 9:39 am.

This occasion symbolizes fresh starts, prosperity, and optimism for the upcoming year. On this day, families engage in thorough cleaning and decorating of their homes, prepare traditional dishes such as mango pachadi, which represents the diverse flavors of life, and visit temples to seek divine blessings.

In other legal news, the Allahabad High Court has ruled that no prior authorization from government bodies is necessary to conduct religious prayer meetings on private property. A bench comprising Justices Atul Sreedharan and Siddharth Nandan determined that the right to engage in religious prayer falls under the fundamental right to freedom of religion as stipulated in Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience and the ability to profess, practice, and propagate religion.

This ruling came in response to a plea alleging inaction from authorities concerning multiple requests from the petitioner to hold a religious prayer meeting on their private premises.

Richa Sahay serves as a Legal Correspondent for The Indian Express, specializing in clarifying the complexities of the Indian legal system. With a postgraduate degree in law, she uses her advanced education to connect technical court decisions with public comprehension, ensuring that readers remain informed about the dynamic legal environment.

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