The Madras High Court recently said that if temples are going to perpetuate violence, the existence of temples will have no meaning and in all such cases, it would be better to close down those temples.

The court said that every time a temple festival is conducted, there are two groups, who start fighting with each other and it leads to a law and order problem, hence, every day, writ petitions seeking police protection are filed before the High Court.

The court said the purpose of a temple is to enable the devotees to worship god for peace and happiness, however, unfortunately, temple festivals are perpetuating violence and it is only becoming a center stage for groups to show who is powerful in the particular area.

“If temples are going to perpetuate violence, the existence of temples will have no meaning and in all such cases, it would be better to close down those temples so that the violence can be averted,” the court said.

The court noted that in such cases, the time and energy of the Police and Revenue department is unnecessarily wasted in resolving dispute between the groups, who are fighting over their right to conduct the temple festival. The court, therefore, refused to direct the police to provide protection for a temple festival in Mayiladuthurai.

The court was dealing with a plea filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India asking for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the Police of Mayiladuthurai District to grant permission and adequate police protection to the temple festival at Arulmigu Sri Rudhra Maha Kaliamman Temple at Sirkali Town, to be held between July 23 to August 8.

“If any law and order problem is created, the respondent police shall immediately interfere and take action against all persons concerned and shall stop the festival from proceeding any further,” the court said.