No violation in appointment of temple archakas in Tamil Nadu says Minister
Those who have been trained in Agama Shastras rules on worship and related aspects and below 35 years alone were appointed as archakas the minister addedRepresentational Image DCChennai The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday said there has been no violation in the appointment of people of all castes as archakas priests to the temples being managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments HR CE departmentHRCE Minister P K Sekar Babu also denied that Brahmin priests especially Archakars and Bhattacharyas were selectively targeted while making the appointment of the fresh batch of archakasHe claimed that the services of no Brahmin priests were terminated and assured the government would look into complaints if any that they were asked to leave the templesImplementing its electoral promise of appointing aspirants belonging to all castes as temple priests the DMK government had on August 14 appointed trained archakas of various communities as priests in shrines
Those who have been trained in Agama Shastras rules on worship and related aspects and below 35 years alone were appointed as archakas the minister added Representational Image DCChennai The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday said there has been no violation in the appointment of people of all castes as archakas priests to the temples being managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments HR CE departmentHRCE Minister P K Sekar Babu also denied that Brahmin priests especially Archakars and Bhattacharyas were selectively targeted while making the appointment of the fresh batch of archakasAll the 58 persons who were appointed as archakas are duly qualified and there is no violation of the constitution as being alleged by a section of the priests the Minister saidReacting to a charge by a section of existing Brahmin priests that their services were abruptly terminated and new archakas were appointed in their place on Monday Babu claimed some Hindutva forces who dont want others to come up in life have taken up a mischievous campaignThose who have been trained in Agama Shastras rules on worship and related aspects and below 35 years alone were appointed as archakas the minister addedThe move follows the decision of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi who wanted people of all castes to become temple priests he addedKalaignar as Karunanidhi was known ensured an amendment to the HR CE Act in 1971 abolishing the customary practice of hereditary appointment of priests for temples Babu saidHe further said that if striving for the upliftment of the oppressed sections is a mistake then Chief Minister M K Stalin Karunanidhis son will repeat the same mistakeHe claimed that the services of no Brahmin priests were terminated and assured the government would look into complaints if any that they were asked to leave the templesImplementing its electoral promise of appointing aspirants belonging to all castes as temple priests the DMK government had on August 14 appointed trained archakas of various communities as priests in shrines
