The Madras High Court has closed a contempt petition after noting that the authorities had returned the idols to a litigant in a case where the residents alleged that his worship of the idols led to unnatural death in the area. The High Court also held that the State Authorities cannot give in to such superstitions and false beliefs.

The contempt petition before the High Court was filed, complaining of willful disobedience of an earlier order dated April 3, 2025, passed in a Writ Petition.

The Single Bench of Justice D.Bharatha Chakravarthy held, “However, if a person wants to keep any idol in his own premises and worship peacefully by himself or by inviting willing friends or neighbours, the public cannot take law into their own hands by the majority might. The State Authorities cannot give in to such superstitions and false beliefs. God or an idol will never harm any human being, and such beliefs are only superstitions and cannot be said to be in tune with the principles of ‘Bhakthi’ or ‘Science’.”

M/s.M.Ganesh Babu represented the Petitioner, while Additional Government Pleader N.Manoharan represented the Respondent.

Factual Background

The petitioner had installed the idols of goddess ‘Sivasakthi Dhakshiswari’ along with ‘Vinayagar’ and ‘Veerabhadran’ in his own premises. The neighbours and other devotees were also welcomed by the petitioner while conducting the poojas in his own premises. The Authorities came to the premises and took away the idols. On behalf of the respondents / authorities it was submitted that after the installation of the idols, there was an unnatural death in the area, and the residents were agitated over the installation of the idols and the worship of the petitioner. In view of the representation made by the local public, the idols were removed.

The Court thus held that the action of the respondents was neither supported by law nor was it supported by any principle of ‘Bhakthi’ or ‘Science’, but only on superstitions. The Court thus ordered the idol to be handed over to the petitioner, and the petitioner was held entitled to worship in his own premises. The Court asked him not to conduct any programme involving the collection of money etc., from the people of the locality. The contempt petition was thus filed on the ground that this order was not complied with.

Reasoning

The Bench noted that the Court had directed the petitioner to visit the Tahsildar Office and collect the idols. The Bench took note of the fact that the idols had been handed over to the petitioner. “...therefore, the Court direction that is issued in paragraph no.6 stands complied with”, it added.

Dealing with the other apprehensions, the Bench stated that if there is any construction that is made without permission of the local authority, it is for the said authority to issue such notice to the petitioner in accordance with law, and the petitioner would be entitled to raise such defences as may be permissible under law. The Bench also made it clear that any worship by the petitioner cannot be in a manner so as to disturb the local public, and there cannot be the use of any loudspeaker creating noise pollution or disturbance to the vicinity.

“Needless to mention that if any ‘Hundi’ is kept, it will entitle the authorities of the HR and CE Department to forthwith inspect the temple and take action in the manner known to law”, the Bench stated while closing the contempt petition.

Cause Title: A.Karthik v. Rashmi Siddharth Zagade (Case No.: CONT P No. 3856 of 2025)

Appearance

Petitioner: M/s.M.Ganesh Babu

Respondent: Additional Government Pleader N.Manoharan, Additional Public Prosecutor (Crl.side) S.Sugendran, M/s.Shaikh Mehrunnisa

Click here to read/download Order


Madras High CourtJustice D Bharatha Chakravarthy

Tulip Kanth

Assistant Editor

Tulip Kanth is an Assistant Editor at Verdictum having over 5 years of experience in the field of legal journalism and editing. She extensively covers judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts as well as Tribunals. She has previously worked with a legal publishing website where she oversaw the work of other editors and has also created updates on notifications of different Government Ministries. She holds an English Honours Degree from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and has completed her LLB course with specialisation in Corporate Law from Amity University.