With two conflicting parties wanting to conduct rituals at Kattu Karuppanna Swamy Temple, Tirumangalam near Madurai on the same day, the Madurai Bench of the Madras on Tuesday asked the State to respond as to whether one party could be allowed to conduct the ritual in the morning and the other in the evening.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S. S. Sundar observed that temple festivals were all about bringing people together. However, with two sets of people having differences and both zeroing in on the very same day for holding the event, the court wanted the State to respond if one party could be allowed in the morning and the other in the evening.
The court ordered notice to Madurai district authorities and sought a response from respondents in the case. The case was adjourned for further hearing to February 25.
The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by S. Jeyakodi of Madurai. In the earlier filed writ petition, the petitioner sought a direction to the Madurai district administration to allow the ritual on Mahasivaratri.