New Delhi: How far the government in a secular country can manage temples? The Supreme Court asks while questioning the running of temples in many parts of the country by state governments. The observation was made while the bench of Justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer was hearing a plea regarding the difficulties faced by the devotees at Jagannath temple in Odisha. The plea also alleged harassment and exploitation by the temple staff appointed by the government.
“It is a matter of perspective. I do not know why government officials should manage temples?,” Justice Bobde observed during the hearing. “In Tamil Nadu, there is theft of idols. These idols, apart from the religious sentiments, are priceless,” the bench added.
Attorney General K K Venugopal told the apex court that Kerala’s Sabarimala temple was being run by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) while board appointed by governments were managing several other temples in the country. Venugopal further questioned how far the government, in a secular state, can control or manage a temple,”
The bench said the matter would be heard next month.
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