Priests can’t refuse to perform rituals for lower caste worshippers: Uttarakhand HC
Stressing that the system’s failure to “accord and protect the dignity, honour and human rights of the persons belonging to lower castes, has led to large scale conversions”, the Uttarakhand high court on Thursday ruled that high caste priests throughout the state shall not refuse to perform religious ceremonies, pujas or rituals if requested by people belonging to lower castes in all religious places and temples.
The court also ordered that all persons, irrespective of their caste, be permitted to enter or visit any temple throughout Uttarakhand without any discrimination. The court also ruled that any properly trained and qualified person can be appointed as ‘poojari’ (priests) in temples, irrespective of their caste.
The division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and Lok Pal Singh gave these directions in response to a public interest litigation filed by Pukhraj & others — followers of Sant Ravidass — in 2016. The order was given last month, but its copy was released on Thursday.
Sandeep Tiwari, counsel for the petitioners, said these followers were not happy with the pro- posal to construct a new staircase near their Sant Ravidass temple at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, arguing that a staircase already existed and the proposed new staircase would cause big inconvenience at their temple.
According to the affidavit, filed by the managers of the dharmshala, it was a private property and the authorities were trying to shift the footbridge to another location without obtaining their prior consent.
The PIL had also sought that high caste priests be instructed to perform the religious ceremonies and pujas on behalf of members belonging to lower caste, and argued that the “time has come to consider appointing any person as pujari in the temple”.
The scope of the PIL was expanded by the high court. Telangana
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