In a significant verdict, the Madras High Court on Monday made it “abundantly clear that pedigree based on caste will have no role to play in the appointment of Archaka (temple priest)“ if the person so selected to the post was well-versed, properly trained and fully qualified to perform pujas and other rituals as per the requirement of the Agama Sastra applicable to the temple concerned.
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh said the Supreme Court had, in Seshammal & others versus State of Tamil Nadu (1972), held that the appointment of an Archaka to a temple would be a secular function, and only the performance of religious service by those priests would be an integral part of the religion. In that verdict, the apex court had clearly differentiated between a secular and religious function.
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