The Madras High Court has decried the practice of treating widows as ill-fated and not letting them participate in temple festivals as well as on other auspicious occasions. It has also lamented the prevalence of such a practice in some parts of the State despite the best efforts of reformist movements.
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh wrote: “It is quite unfortunate that archaic beliefs like a widow entering a temple will cause impurity continues to prevail in this State. Even though the reformers are attempting to break all these senseless beliefs, it continues to be practised in some villages.”
Disposing of a writ petition filed by a widow, he wrote: “These are the dogmas and the rules framed by man to suit his convenience. It actually demeans a woman just because she has lost her husband. All these can never continue in a civilised society governed by the rule of law.”
