Madras HC allows women to become temple priests

Madurai: The Madras High Court has allowed a woman to become a temple priest. Justice K Chandru of the Madurai Bench allowed a petition filed by Pinniyakkal, the only legal heir of the temple priest to perform ritual at the temple.

He rejected the plea of one of the respondents, a male cousin of the petitioner only a male member can be a priest. The Judge held that such a contention did not have legal or factual basis.

Justice Chandru said that it is ironical that when the presiding deity of the temple is a Goddess, objections are being raised against a woman performing prayers in such temples.

"Neither provision of law nor any scheme prohibits a woman from performing prayers in such temple," he added.