The Kerala High Court rejected a petition seeking permission to install saffron flags on the premises of a temple in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, Live Law reported.
A single bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V said on September 5, “Temples stand as beacons of spiritual solace and tranquility, their sanctity and reverence being of paramount importance.”
“Such hallowed spiritual grounds must not be diminished by political manoeuvrings or attempts at one-upmanship,” the order said.
The court was hearing a petition by two persons who said they are devotees of deity Parthasarathy at the Muthupilakkadu Sree Parthasarathy temple in Bharanikavu village in Alappuzha district.
The petitioners had contended that their attempts to put up saffron flags on temple premises during special occasions and festivals were thwarted by some people, who allegedly used their political influence.
They sought an order from the court to direct police to give them protection so that they are not being obstructed from erecting the flags.
The Kerala government’s lawyer PS Appu argued allowing the petitioners to put up flags and festoons associated with a certain political party would tantamount to “allowing the temple to be used as a battleground for political one-upmanship”.
The counsel also told the court that in 2020, it had directed police to remove any such installations from the temple premises.
The court then said in its order, “The petitioners have not demonstrated any legitimate authority to conduct temple rituals as they have prayed for. Furthermore, they cannot be allowed to erect flags or festoons in or around the temple, in light of the orders issued by this Court and decision taken by the administrative committee.”
“The actions and intentions of the petitioners are clearly at odds with the serene and sacred atmosphere to be maintained in the temple,” the order stated.