HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION CENTRE –
TAMIL NADU
702/5 Junction Road,
virudhachalam-606 001. Contact – 94432
60164
________________________________________________________________________
Date 28.01.2013
S.Raju, M.A.M.L
Advocate
State Co-Ordinator
PRESS
RELEASE
The
writ petition (Civil) no.354 of 2006 and the batch filed before the Hon’ble
Supreme Court by the Sivacharyas against the law enabling to serve non –
Brahmins as Archagas listed tomorrow (29.01.2013) before Justice Mr. Lodha
Bench. On the last hearing (13.12.2012) the advocate appeared on behalf of the
Government of Tamil Nadu, informed the Court that the Government is trying to
settle the issue in amicable manner. The crux of the issue to be decided in
this case is, whether the practice of untouchablity preventing non-Brahmins
from touching the deities can be approved as a religious right. Hence it is
very easy to understand that there cannot be a place for settlement in this
issue.
In
the year 2006 through an amendment and a Government Order enabling non-Brahmins
to become Archagas, the DMK Government started Archagas Training Schools all
over Tamil Nadu and trained nearly 206 students hailing from the oppressed and
the Brahmins. In the year 2008, the students completed their training and got
Dheekshai and were ready for appointment.
In
these circumstances, the Shivacharyas belong to Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
filed the above mentioned case before the Supreme Court pleading that
appointing non-Brahmins as Archagas is against Agama and if a non-Brahmin lays
hand on the deity, it gets polluted. Accepting the said contentions, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court granted stay of the said legal provisions. Taking advantage of the stay order, the
Shivacharyars have been taking adjournments for many years with an intention to
drag the case. In the meanwhile, our Human Rights Protection Centre organized
the Archaga Trained students and formed an Association and got impleaded in the
case.
In
the year 1970, pursuant to the E.V.Ramasamy (Periyar)’s announcement of protest
to enter into the sanctum sanctorum of Temples, the Government of Tamil Nadu
brought an enactment abolishing the succession right in the employment of
Archagas. Challenging the same, one Sesammal
approached the Supreme Court in the year of 1971. Although the Hon’ble Supreme
Court upheld the validity of the enactment, it was held that as per the custom,
the appointment of Archagas should be made with the eligible candidates as per
the Agama and in each Temple Archagas should be selected from the respective
denomination of the Brahmin community. By upholding the custom of religious
right, the Hon’ble Supreme Court justified the practice of untouchability.
Since
the question whether untouchability can be a religious right is the pending
case now, the Shivacharyas restrain hearing of the case, out of fear if they
lose the case their casteism will be exposed. We also suspect that by placing a
proposal of settlement, the Government is trying to end up the enactment
brought by the DMK Government.
This
case is not only related to the appointment of Archagas. It is a case to cease
untouchability in Temples. Though untouchability is a crime in social
activities, in the issue of appointment of Archagas it is recognized a Hindu
religious right.
Agama
prevents unmarried and widowed Brahmins from touching the deity. Despite these Agama rules, many such Brahmins
including the unruly Kanchipuram Devanadhan are discharging as Archagas. But
the Trained Archaga students are fully eligible except they are not born in Brahmin
Community. For the past five years from the date of filing of the case, the
students are left on the streets, but the Government is now swindling them in
the name of settlement. We are going to
argue against this stand of the Government.
Condemning
the action of the Government to sustain untouchability in Temple, we along with
the Archaga Trained Students Association, have organized for a demonstration on
30.01.2013 (Wednesday) at 11 am near the Memorial Hall, Chennai. We request you
to join hands with us by issuing this press statement through your media to
expose the Government’s play behind the veil.
Fraternally,
S.Raju
State Co-Ordinator
Human Rights Protection Centre
For Contact Details
V.Ranganahtan
State Coordinator
V.Ranganahtan
State Coordinator
TamilNadu Government
Trained Archaka's Association
Reg:No: 189/09
Address : No: 128,
Yadhva Street,
Nartham poondi Village
& Post,
Thiruvannamalai - 606
802
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