Temple festivals have constitutional value: Madras High Court warns against chappal throwing on devotees

The Madras High Court recently observed that preserving temple festivals is itself a constitutional value and that miscreants throwing chappals at devotees during religious processions must be dealt with “with an iron hand.” [Sundaravadivel Vs District Collector]..Justice L Victoria Gowri of the Madurai Bench made the observation while directing the Madurai police to intensify security during the Chithirai Festival and prevent such acts during the Lord Kallazhagar ceremonial procession.“Preservation of a centuries-old civilizational festival is itself a constitutional value,” the Court said..The Court added that throwing chappals at devotees during a divine procession could not be treated as ordinary disorderly conduct.“Throwing chappals at devotees in the midst of a divine procession is not merely an act of disorder; it is an affront to faith, an assault upon customary religious practice, and a desecration of the secular fraternity that forms part of the constitutional ethos,” the Court observed..The Court was hearing a petition filed by P Sundaravadivel, who sought preventive action against persons allegedly throwing chappals at devotees during the Lord Kallazhagar procession.The petitioner submitted that similar incidents had taken place during the previous year’s festival. A video recording of such conduct was also placed before the Court.He said that despite a representation dated April 14, no effective preventive strategy had been communicated by the authorities.The State told the Court that elaborate arrangements had already been made for the festival. It said nearly five lakh devotees were expected to attend the event.The authorities submitted that 280 mandagapadi points had been covered, 244 CCTV cameras installed, 169 focus lights arranged in the riverbed, 54 watch towers erected and drone surveillance activated.The Court was also informed that 32 persons had already been detained as a preventive measure..Justice Victoria Gowri observed that the Chithirai Festival was not merely a temple event but a “civilizational continuum” and a living embodiment of Tamil heritage..The Court said the festival represented the confluence of Meenakshi Amman Temple traditions and Kallazhagar Temple traditions. According to the Court, the festival symbolically uniting Shaivite and Vaishnavite streams.It added that religious freedom under Article 25 of the Constitution protects not only belief but also the meaningful exercise of faith through customs. The right to practice religion includes the right to perform established customary religious observances without humiliation, intimidation or obstruction by disruptive elements, the Court said..Thus, the Court directed the Commissioner of Police of Madurai to deploy 15 to 20 striking force vehicles along the 7.6-kilometre city route of the procession.It also ordered that at least 10 striking force vehicles be stationed in the Vaigai riverbed area.Police personnel posted in watch towers were directed to remain on highest alert and continuously monitor vulnerable spots with drone surveillance.The Court further directed that any person found throwing chappals or indulging in similar disruptive acts against the procession or devotees must be immediately apprehended. .“Any attempt to desecrate or disrupt the sanctity of the procession shall be dealt with sternly and without hesitation,” the Court said..Advocate RJ Karthick appeared for the petitioner..Government Advocate CS Satheesh appeared for the District Collector. Government Advocate SS Manoj appeared for the Commissioner of Police. Standing Counsel S Manohar appeared for the Joint Commissioner of Arulmighu Kallazhagar Temple..[Read Judgment]