Archive · 1 Jan 2026
Madras High Court Rules Temple Honours Not Absolute Right
The Madras High Court recently made a decision about who gets special honours in a temple.
They said that the first and most important honour always goes to the temple's main deity.
The court was deciding a case about a temple in Kanchipuram where some groups wanted special honours.
The court said that while some practices of honouring certain religious leaders might exist, these are not absolute rights and must be decided by the proper authorities.
The court also said that the temple's special honours are only for five recognized religious groups.
The group that filed the appeal was told they could ask the authorities to look into their case if they wanted.
Madras High Court ruled that special honours in a temple are not an absolute right and the first honour is always to the presiding deity.
The court dismissed an appeal by Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam, stating that special honours must be decided by the competent authority under the HR&CE Act.
The dispute involves the Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple in Kanchipuram and the practice of conferring special honours, or Pancha Mudhirai Mariyadhai.
The court acknowledged that honouring heads of mutts may have been followed as a practice but emphasized that it must be decided by the competent authority under Section 63(e) of the HR&CE Act.
The court granted the appellant the liberty to approach the competent authority under Section 63(e) of the Act for redressal of its grievance.
- Who
- Madras High Court, Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam, HR&CE department
- What
- Ruling that special honours in a temple cannot be claimed as an absolute right
- When
- December 15
- Where
- Madras High Court, Tamil Nadu, India
- Why
- To decide on the dispute over special honours at Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram
- Court
- Madras High Court
- Bench
- Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan
- Date of Ruling
- December 15
- Temple Involved
- Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram
- Act Mentioned
- Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act, 1959
- Section of Act
- Section 63(e)
- Appellant
- Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam
- Recognized Mutts
- Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Ahobila Mutt, Sri Vanamamalai Mutt, Sri Parakala Jeeyar Mutt, Sri Vyasarayar Mutt