Sullia: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday allowed the practice of “Made Snana” in its traditional form at the Kukke Subrahmanya temple in Dakshina Kannada district.
Hearing a review petition by Adivasi Budakattu Hitarakshana Vedike which sought a stay on the 2012 High Court order, the division bench comprising Justices N Kumar and B V Nagarathna passed the interim order allowing the ritual in its traditional form.
“It would not be proper to give effect to the modified order of 2012. The ritual practised for several centuries shall continue,” the bench observed. The practice in its traditional form will continue till the court decides the Constitutional validity of the ritual.
The petitioners, members of Malekudiya tribe of Sullia taluk, had filed a review petition challenging the 2012 order which allowed the modified ritual. The High Court modified the practice following a petition by Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji and several progressive thinkers.
It stated that rolling over the food left over by upper caste devotees should be replaced with the practice of rolling on food offered to the deity.
The petitioners contended that they are the traditional workers of the temple and pleaded the court to review the order as it had not considered their arguments while modifying the practice. They contended that any change in the ritual will offend their religious sentiments and also amount to disrespecting the deity.
Counsel for petitioners, K M Phanindra submitted that the practice is not forced upon anyone and is also not restricted to a specific community. Dismissing the petition, the court observed that the practice has been followed since ages and is voluntary.
“No harm would be caused if it is not stayed as the said practice is not followed by force. Denying the religious ritual would amount to denial of right to freedom of religion granted under the Constitution and will hurt the religious sentiments of the devotees,” the bench stated.
