[MrGunjMan_]

Madras High Court asked the advocate general Tuesday why the government should not come out with clear guidelines on who shall be exceptionally treated and why the pass system in temples should not be abolished, as has been done in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation by lawyer J. Prabhakaran seeking to forbid Sri Ranganathar Swamy Temple, Srirangam, authorities from allowing free special darshans to VIPs and VVIPs with or without badges during important festivals.

He said VIPs and VVIPs entered the temple through a special entrance in large numbers, obstructing other devotees. The Madras high court on Tuesday directed advocate general A. Navaneethakrishnan to seek instructions as to why the government should not come out with clear guidelines on who shall be exceptionally treated and why the pass system be not abolished in the Sri Ranganatha Swamy Thirukovil in Tiruchy, as has been done in temples in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

A PIL by advocate J. Prabhakaran sought to restrain the authorities from allowing free special darshan to

VIPs and VVIPs with or without badges on important festivals such as Tamil New Year Day, Karthikai Deepam, Diwali, Mahashivarathiri, English New Year Day and particularly the Vaikunda Ekadasi festival. Prabhakaran said TN was very famous for temples and all round the year festivals were being celebrated in temples. Many devotees from across India throng particular temples for particular festivals. The authorities make arrangements for darshan, including levying a fee for special darshan and also arranging free darshan. However, the HR & CE department indiscriminately issues passes to VIPs and VVIPs for free special darshan. The VIPs and VVIPs enter the temple through a special entrance in large numbers and thus hinder the others from having darshan, he said. In TN, authorities issue several passes on festivals and other important days, he said. Issuing passes for special darshans to VIPs and VVIPs is a clear case of discrimination and discrimination between devotees for darshan is against the principles of equality, social harmony and brotherhood, he said.

Source: Deccan Chronicle