Supreme Court rejects plea against VIP temple entry

The Supreme Court on Friday did not pass any order in a plea challenging VIP entries for darshan (worship) in temples across India.

A bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice Sanjay Kumar said though the Court agrees no special treatment should be given for entries into the temples, the issue is not for the Court to decide or pass directions.

However, the Court left it to the state authorities to take a call on the issue if they want.

"While we may be of the opinion that no special treatment be given with regard to the entry to temples, we do not think it is a fit case to exercise jurisdiction under Article 32. We clarify that that dismissal of the petition will not in any way bar the appropriate authorities from taking action as they require," the Court said.

The petition was filed by one Vijay Kishore Goswami who had contended that preferential entries by paying VIP entry charges in Indian temples is arbitrary and discriminatory to the rights of the economically weaker section of devotees.

Such special treatment for entry to temples is violative of the principles laid down in Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, the petition stated.

Earlier during the hearing, the Court had adjourned the matter to a later date, to first examine whether this issue has been decided in previous court judgments and if there is any existing judgment on it.

On Friday, the Court said it cannot exercise its powers under Article 32 (Remedies for Enforcement of Rights) of the Constitution of India to decide the matter as the decision to take action on the issue lies with the state authorities. Hence it dismissed the petition.