Madras High Court upholds ban on non-Hindus at Palani Murugan Temple

ii) The respondents are directed not to allow the non-Hindus who do not believe in Hindu religion.

iii) If any non-Hindu claims to visit particular deity in the temple, then the respondents shall obtain undertaking from the said non-Hindu that he is having faith in the deity and he would follow the customs and practices of Hindu religion and also abide by the temple customs and on such undertaking the said non-Hindu may be allowed to visit the temple.

iv) Whenever a non-Hindu is allowed based on the undertaking the same shall be entered in the register which shall be maintained by the temple.

v) The respondents shall maintain the temple premises by strictly following the agamas, customs and practices of the temple,” according to Bar & Bench.

The court further stated, "If a non-Hindu is not having faith and decline to follow the customs and practices of the Hindu religion and decline to follow the temple customs, then the said non-Hindu cannot be allowed and hence there is no question of hurting his sentiments. On the other hand, if the non-Hindu who declines to follow the customs and practices of the Hindu religion and decline to follow the temple customs is allowed inside the temple, it would affect the sentiments of the large number of Hindus who practices the faith as Hindu reverently.”

BJP's Sunny Raj wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Our Hindu temples are not picnic spots but spaces of devotion. Appreciating Madurai High Court's decision to uphold the sanctity of Palani Murugan Temple."