The Kerala High Court dismissed devotee Sanil Narayanan Nampoothiri’s petition challenging two Christian priests’ entry into Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Adoor, during the 2023 Krishna Jayanti celebrations. Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar ruled that the priests entered as guests with tantri permission, distinguishing guest access from worship rights under Travancore Devaswom Board administration.
The court identified a conflict between the 1965 Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship Act, guaranteeing Hindu entry without the non-Hindu prohibition found only in the subordinate Rule 3(a). Supreme Court precedents confirm parent Acts prevail over inconsistent rules, prompting a directive for state consultation with devaswom boards, tantris, and scholars on retaining or amending the blanket restriction.
Division Bench emphasized atithi devo bhava, hospitality as integral to Hindu temple culture, where tantri holds final ritual authority, permitting ceremonial access without violating agama shastras. The 1965 legislation aimed at caste abolition among Hindus contains no non-Hindu bar, rendering Rule 3(a) potentially ultra vires.
Amicus curiae clarified that non-Hindu exclusion lacks essential religious practice status under Article 25, preserving core Hindu tenets regardless of guest presence.
Kerala High Court on January 30 dismissed a challenge against Christian priests’ invited entry into Adoor Parthasarathy Temple, directing the government to review Rule 3(a)’s non-Hindu prohibition, inconsistent with the parent Act promoting Hindu inclusivity, while upholding tantri-authorised guest access as legitimate temple tradition.
