Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

SHRC notice to HR&CE on temple ritual

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI MARCH 5 . Taking a serious view of Press reports of a priest, wearing sandals with nails, walking over women at a temple in Coimbatore district, the State Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Commissioner, HR and CE department to submit a report on the practice by March 17. Notices have also been issued to the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore rural.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police attached to the investigation wing of the commission has been instructed to visit the place and submit a report.

The commission member, S. Sambandham, took suo motu cognisance of a report in The Hindu on March 4 that the ritual was held at the Poochiyur temple, near Periyanaickenpalayam in connection with Mahasivarathri.

Commission sources told The Hindu that the ritual came in the wake of the HR and CE department issuing a circular to its officers that as public servants they were duty bound to protect human dignity by not allowing any kind of practice which denigrated human beings, particularly in the name of exorcism, or violation of human rights. They should ensure that such rituals were not held within the temple or its precincts. Specific instances of violations should be brought to the notice of the department commissioner. Also, complaints should be lodged against those who resort to or abet such practices.

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