Source: The Hindustan Times
NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 5, 2002: The Supreme Court has ruled that brahmins do not have a monopoly over performing puja in a temple and said a non-brahmin, properly trained and well-versed with the rituals, could be appointed as a pujari (temple priest). “As long as anyone well-versed and properly trained and qualified to perform the puja in a manner conducive and appropriate to the worship of the particular deity, is appointed as priest, no valid or legally justifiable grievance can be made in a court of law,” the court said on Thursday. This ruling was given by Justice S. Rajendra Babu and Justice Doraiswamy Raju who upheld the appointment of a non-brahmin as pujari in Kongoopilly Neerikode Siva Temple at Alangad village in Ernakulam, Kerala. Justice Raju, writing for the Bench, said no doubt only a qualified person, well-versed and properly trained for the purpose, alone could perform pujas in the temple since he not only had to enter the sanctum sanctorum but also touch the icon installed therein.