The Supreme Court of India recently issued an order to maintain the status quo regarding the appointment of archakas (priests) in Tamil Nadu temples governed by the Agamic tradition.

• This decision came in response to a writ petition filed by the ‘Srirangam Koil Miras Kainkaryaparagal Matrum Athanai Sarntha Koilgalin Miraskain-karyaparargalin Nalasangam,’ an association of archakas.
• The bench of Justices AS Bopanna issued the notice on the writ petition and stated that “in the meantime, the status quo relating to archakaship in Agamic temples in question shall be continued in the same manner until further orders.”

Challenging Government Orders

The petition sought the court’s intervention to quash the Tamil Nadu Government’s orders dated July 27, 2023, and the Government letter of August 28, 2023. These orders attempted to alter the hereditary scheme of appointing archakas from a particular denomination in Agama temples.

The government aimed to open these appointments to individuals from other denominations who had completed a one-year certificate course for archakas in government-run schools.