The Madras High Court has directed the authorities to ensure that no non-devotional songs, such as movie songs, were played within the premises of Hindu temples during festivals and other religious occasions.
Additional Government Pleader R Sreedhar, appearing for the Puducherry government and other authorities, assured the High Court that only devotional songs would be played within the premises of temples.
The single-judge Bench of Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy recorded his submission and ordered that during any temple festival, if an orchestra was arranged on behalf of the Temple authorities (or) on behalf of devotees within the precincts of the temple, care must be taken to render only devotional songs and not non-devotional songs.
The High Court passed the order on a petition filed by one Venkatesh Sowrirajan, a devotee from Puducherry.
Appearing as party-in-person, Sowrirajan contended that when orchestras were arranged at the Veezhi Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Tirumalairayan Pattinam, Puducherry, movie songs were also played. He argued that it was not appropriate to sing such songs inside the temple.
The petitioner further contended that the Temple was left without any trustees to administer it for a long time.
The single-judge Bench reprimanded the authorities for the sorry state of affairs, stating that they could not keep the temple without the appointment of Trustees for a long period.
The authorities were directed to take immediate steps for the appointment of the trustees.
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