Madras High Court directs police to ensure widow is allowed to enter temple; says woman’s identity not dependent on her marital status

The Madras High Court Friday directed the police authorities in Erode district of Tamil Nadu to ensure that a widowed woman and her son are permitted to participate in a local temple festival. .Justice Anand Venkatesh said that a woman’s status and identity do not depend on her marital status and, therefore, nobody has the right to stop a woman from entering a temple merely for the reason that she is a widow.The Court was hearing a petition filed by one Thangamani, a resident of Erode district, alleging that she and her son were being prevented by some villagers from entering the local temple and participating in upcoming the temple festival because of her widowed status. The petitioner-woman also told the Court that she was threatened by some locals because they believed that a widow entering a temple might make the temple premises impure. This was despite the fact that her late husband used to be the priest at the very temple that she wished to offer her prayers at..Justice Venkatesh said it was unfortunate that such archaic beliefs were still prevalent in the State.The judge said that a woman has “a status and identity that cannot in any way come down or be taken away depending upon her marital status.” Hence, the locals have no right to stop the petitioner and her son from attending the festival and worshiping God, the Court underlined..“It is quite unfortunate that the archaic beliefs that if a widow enters a temple, it will cause impurity continues to prevail in this State. Even though, the reformers are attempting to break all these senseless beliefs, it continues to be practiced in some villages. These are the dogmas and the rules framed by man to suit his convenience and it actually demeans a woman just because she has lost her husband. All this can never continue in a civilized society, which is governed by rule of law. If any such attempt is made by anyone to stop a widow from entering the temple, action must be 3/6 Writ Petition No.23119 of 2023 taken against them in accordance with law,” the Court said..The Court, therefore, directed the local police to call those persons who had threatened the petitioner and to clearly inform them that they cannot stop the petitioner and her son from entering the temple and attending the festival that is scheduled for August 9 and 10 this year..“If, in spite of the same, the respondents 5 and 6 (those threatening the petitioner) attempt to create a law and order problem, action shall be taken against them immediately. The fourth respondent shall ensure that the petitioner and her son participate in the festival both on August 9 and August 10,” the Court said..Advocate V Elangovan appeared for the petitioner.Additional Public Prosecutor A Damodaran appeared for the Erode collector and the local police..[Read Order]