CHENNAI: The Podhu Dikshithars alleged before the Madras High Court that the issue relating to Kanagasabai darshan at the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple was being politicised.
The case, filed by the Podhu Dikshithars challenging the order issued by the State government permitting devotees to offer prayers at the Kanagasabai of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, came up for hearing again on Thursday before a division bench comprising Justice R Suresh Kumar and Justice S Sounthar
Pointing out that the Supreme Court had recently held that the government cannot interfere in temple matters belonging to a particular denomination, the senior counsel appearing for them alleged that the Kanagasabai darshan issue was being politicised. He further sought an adjournment of the hearing to enable him to advance detailed arguments in the matter.
Opposing this, the counsel appearing for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department denied that the issue was being politicised. He argued that if the hearing was to be adjourned, instead of allowing devotees to enter and exit through a single route, another pathway should also be opened, so that it could be ascertained how many devotees were able to have darshan.
The judges, however, declined to accept this suggestion and adjourned the hearing of the case to February 19.