HC notice to TN govt on appointment of archakas in temples

: The Madras High Court today issued notice to state Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department on a petition seeking for a direction to evolve a scheme to appoint trained archakas in temples.
Justice V Parthiban before whom the plea filed by one Sabarinathan, an archaka, came up, issued notice returnable by two weeks.
In his petition, Sabarinathan submitted as per the report of Justice AK Rajan there was no mention about caste either in Vedas or 'Agamas' (traditions) and the committee in its report categorically stated that only persons of a particular caste could perform poojas and there was absolutely no authority to say that persons belonging to a particular caste alone were eligible to perform poojas in Saivite, Vaishavite or Amman temples.

The petitioner further submitted that the committee which was constituted by the state made it clear in its report that 'Agama' does not prescribe any particular language for performing poojas and other rituals.
He submitted that he made a representation on March 13 to HR & CE Department to make public as to how many temples were "Agamic" temples and how many temples are not "Agamic" and also sought to evolve a scheme to remove unqualified archakas and to appoint trained archakas like him.