‘Paid darshan OK, but distance to sanctorum should be same’

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar before whom a PIL from the Indic Collective Trust, seeking a direction to the HR & CE to abolish the system of ‘paid darshan’ came up on Monday, said “Irrespective of paid or unpaid, the darshan of the deity shall be provided from the same distance to all.” 

The petitioner trust represented by its managing trustee G Aravindalochanan said at temples like Sri Andal Temple at Srivilliputtur, Arulmighu Ekambaranathar Temple at Kancheepuram and Arulmigu Oppiliappan Temple at Thirunagesaram, special privileges are provided to devotees who pay for darshan by allowing them to worship the deity not only from shorter distance but also offer them longer duration to pray compared to those who arrive through free darshan queue. 

Pointing out that this is in total violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 and 25 of the Constitution, he further noted that money cannot be a basis for creating differentiation among equals as the same was without any reasonable basis and without precedence in law or custom. 

Any hindrance in equal access to all the devotees irrespective of caste, gender or financial ability will be against the right to practise religion, the petitioner added.