In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has directed the police authorities in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu to ensure the unhindered participation of a widowed woman and her son in an upcoming local temple festival.
Justice Anand Venkatesh emphasized that a woman's identity and standing are not contingent on her marital status. Thus, he asserted that it is unjustifiable for anyone to obstruct a woman's entry into a temple solely due to her widowhood.
This decision came in response to a plea lodged by Thangamani, a resident of Erode district, who raised concerns that she and her son were being unjustly barred by certain villagers from accessing the local temple and partaking in the forthcoming temple festivities, citing her status as a widow.
The petitioner informed the Court that she had received threats from locals who held the belief that a widow's presence in the temple premises could taint its purity. Interestingly, her late husband had formerly served as the priest at the same temple where she sought to offer her prayers.
Justice Venkatesh expressed disappointment that such outdated beliefs continue to persist in the state, underscoring that a woman's worth "cannot be diminished or confiscated based on her marital status."
Therefore, the Court upheld the rights of the petitioner and her son to join the festival and engage in worship, highlighting that these beliefs are incompatible with a modern society governed by the rule of law. The Court stressed that any attempt to hinder a widow's temple entry should be met with legal consequences.
The Court directed the local police to intervene, summon individuals who had issued threats to the petitioner, and explicitly communicate that obstructing her and her son's temple entry is impermissible. The temple festival is scheduled for August 9 and 10 this year, and the Court firmly mandated that the petitioner and her son must be allowed to participate.
Advocate V Elangovan represented the petitioner in this case, while Additional Public Prosecutor A Damodaran appeared on behalf of the Erode collector and local police.
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TAGS: Madras High Court police widow temple festival Justice Anand Venkatesh woman's identity marital status Erode district Tamil Nadu participation local temple Thangamani villagers threats purity late husband priest modern society rule of law legal consequences intervene temple entry festival dates August 9 and 10 advocate V Elangovan Additional Public Prosecutor A Damodaran Erode collector.
