Justice R. Mahadevan of the Madras High Court on Wednesday was ecstatic to come across a writ petition filed by a 24-year-old Muslim youth S. Abdullah who happened to be the dharmakartha (a fiduciary) of a Hindu temple at Venkarai village in Paramathivelur Taluk of Namakkal district.
“It is really great. This court appreciates it. Your prayer is granted and the writ petition is allowed. The order copy shall be issued today itself,” the judge said when the writ petition seeking permission for the conduct of cultural performances during the temple festival came up for admission before him.
Though the petitioner’s counsel began arguing the case like any other without any reference to the religion professed by the petitioner, the judge broached the subject by referring to the name of the petitioner and said that he was elated to come across a case that stands as an example for religious amity.
In his affidavit, Mr. Abdullah had stated that he had been holding the post of dharmakartha of Sri Venkaraiamman Koil for the last few years. He had been administering the temple and also organising its annual festivals in a peaceful manner without giving room for any law and order problem in the locality.
This year, he acceded to a request made by the villagers to organise a cultural programme as part of the temple festival and gave a representation to the Inspector of Paramathivelur police station on September 24. However, the police did not grant permission, apprehending threat to the maintenance of law and order, he said.
Hence, he had approached the court seeking a direction to the police to grant permission for the programme. More than the cause, the thing that struck the eyes of the judge first was the name of the petitioner. He was impressed so much that he allowed the petition at the admission stage itself and ordered issuance of order copy immediately.