Madras High Court Critiques VIP Access in Temples as Unjust
The Madras High Court has taken a firm stance against the practice of VIP access in temples, deeming it discriminatory and unnecessary. During a recent hearing, the court highlighted that such privileges are not afforded in other places of worship, like churches and mosques. A public interest petition has called for the complete abolition of VIP access, except for certain groups. The court is investigating whether temple officials have violated any regulations regarding access. This ruling raises significant questions about equality in religious practices and the role of government officials in places of worship. For more details on this landmark decision, read the full article.
| May 30, 2026, 16:12 IST
Court's Stance on VIP Access
The Madras High Court expressed its disapproval on Friday regarding the practice of VIP access in temples, labeling it as unfair and discriminatory. The bench, comprising Justice G.R. Swaminathan and Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, noted that such privileges are not extended in churches or mosques. During the proceedings, the judges emphasized that ministers and legislators should not assume they can visit temples at their convenience, expecting divine attention. They questioned the necessity of VIP access, asserting that all individuals are equal before God. The court dismissed the argument presented by the state's additional advocate general, P.V. Balasubramanian, who claimed that discontinuing paid VIP access would harm temple revenues.
Public Interest Petition Highlights
The bench was addressing a public interest petition that sought to abolish VIP and special access in temples, except for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and constitutional authorities. The petition, filed by P. Chokalingam of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, called for the termination of the VIP access tradition in temples managed by the Human Resources and Communications Department. Chokalingam's lawyer, B. Jagannath, referenced a Supreme Court ruling regarding the Banke Bihari Temple, which suggested forming a committee to eliminate special access and VIP queue systems. A report from this committee was submitted to the Supreme Court last week.
Investigation into Temple Regulations
The High Court sought to determine whether temple officials had violated any regulations. In previous hearings, the bench inquired if the Tirupparankundram temple officials had breached rules by keeping the temple open longer than permitted to accommodate new minister R. Nirmalkumar and his associates. The state government clarified that no Agama rules were violated during the minister's visit. Acknowledging this, the bench remarked that ministers should not consider themselves above the law or believe that deities await their arrival. The court subsequently adjourned the case for six weeks for further hearings.