Restrict entry of devotees visiting temple on Sathuragiri hills: HC

Madurai: Madras high court has directed the Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) and forest departments to impose restrictions on devotees visiting the Sundaramahalingam temple on Sathuragiri hills. The court said that devotees should be permitted to enter the forest checkpost from 6am to 10am daily enabling them to reach the foothills by 4pm, after darshan.
Justice B Pugalendhi directed authorities to ensure no one stays back in the hill without any permission during the night hours. If anyone stays back without permission on the hill, the forest department should arrest them and prosecute them under the relevant laws in force. Devotees should stick to the permitted trekking path and should not enter into the forest. During adverse seasonal/ weather conditions, the HR&CE department should take the assistance of the district administration with regard to allowing the pilgrims to trek the hill for worship. The decision of the district administration shall be final.
Littering in the trek path and its surroundings must be prohibited. Polythene, plastics, matchsticks, flammable and combustible materials shall be prohibited. The forest department shall establish a frisking point at the entry point checkpost and the devotees shall be subjected to thorough checking. The HR&CE department shall install adequate CCTV cameras with an access to the forest department to monitor the movements and to prevent any illegal activities by the devotees in the forest area.
The court was hearing the petition filed in 2023 by N Sadayandi, president of Navarathiri festival committee of Saliyar community in Srivilliputhur. He had challenged the order passed by the authorities granting only three days' permission for the people to celebrate Ananthavalli Amman Navarathiri festival on the hill. The petitioner had sought permission for 10 days including stay for three days at the temple.
Justice Pugalendhi accepted the contention of the petitioner that the authorities, by imposing such restrictions to visit the temple and to worship the deity as per the practice, customs, belief, faith, are interfering with their right guaranteed under the Constitution. Though the authorities claim that there is an obligation on them to protect the forest and environment, they have to strike the balance by protecting the rights of the citizens guaranteed under the Constitution.
Referring to the Supreme Court order in Amarnath shrine's case, the judge observed that it is an occasion of privilege and pride for the devotees to go on pilgrimage to the Sathuragiri hills. When the right of the public has already been confirmed by the govt in a notification in 1979, to reach the temple and offer their worship, the forest department cannot restrict the entry of the public who are visiting the temple and their stay in the temple. Hence, the judge allowed the petition observing that the order is liable to be set aside as violative of the Constitutional rights.