The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday summoned Karur and Pudukkottai Collectors to appear before the court while hearing matters that sought directions to the authorities concerned to ensure the participation of Scheduled Caste people at temple festivals in the two districts.

A Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and K.K. Ramakrishnan directed Karur Collector, Inspector General of Police (Central Zone), Karur Superintendent of Police and other officials to be present before the court while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by P. Ramesh of Nerur North in Manmangalam in Karur district.

The petitioner said that the Vaikasi festival at Aravayee Amman Temple was scheduled to be held from May 21 to May 23. He said that for the past 15 years the temple car was not entering the area of the Scheduled Caste people, even after representations were made to the authorities in this regard.

He sought a direction to the authorities to resolve the issue between the Scheduled Caste people and people belonging to a dominant intermediate Caste and take appropriate action to bring Aravayee Amman Temple car to the area of the Scheduled Caste people for the festival. The court posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.

A mention was made before the court with regard to the clashes reported between the Scheduled Caste people and people belonging to a Most Backward Community in Vadakadu in Pudukkottai district. The petitioner S. Shanmugam of Karambakudi in Pudukkottai district said that a mob of more than 300 people belonging to the Most Backward Community had attacked the Scheduled Caste settlement injuring people and destroying their properties.

He sought a direction to the authorities to ensure that the Scheduled Caste people were allowed to enter the temple and worship at the Mariamman temple in Vadakadu. He also sought a thorough investigation into the incident and adequate compensation be paid to the victims belonging to the Scheduled Caste. The court directed Pudukottai Collector, Inspector General of Police (Central Zone), Pudukkottai Superintendent of Police and other officials to be present before the court.

Another mention was made before the court with regard to permitting the Scheduled Caste people to participate in Bhagavathi Amman temple festival in Porunthalur in Karur district. The petitioner, R. Subramani of Mettupatti in Kulithalai in Karur district, said that the Scheduled Caste people should be permitted to carry Mulaipari and Theechatti processions inside the temple.

He also sought a direction to the authorities to end all forms of caste discrimination including the practices followed in tea and tiffin shops. The court directed Karur Collector, Inspector General of Police (Central Zone), Karur Superintendent of Police and other officials to be present before the court. The court posted the matters for hearing on Thursday.