CHENNAI, INDIA, August 2, 2023 (The Print): The Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple in Dindigul \u2014 believed to be one of the six holy abodes of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu \u2014 has been in the news over the Palani Hill Temple Devotees Organisation\u2019s demand to ban the entry of non-Hindus. The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court Monday allowed the authorities to retain a board saying non-Hindus are not allowed in the temple premises. The bench was hearing a petition filed on 27 July by D. Senthilkumar, organizer of Palani Hill Temple Devotees Organisation, in which he had said that non-Hindus had purchased tickets at the winch station to go to the Palani hilltop, the temple\u2019s premises.
Senthilkumar\u2019s complaint was based on an incident that took place on 22 June this year. The organization then urged the state government\u2019s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR & CE) department\u2019s joint director in-charge of the Palani shrine to reinstate the notice board \u2014 removed during renovation work for the temple\u2019s consecration \u2014 restricting entry of non-Hindus. This request went unacknowledged, leading to the organization holding a meeting on 30 June to come up with a plan of action, followed by a protest on 11 July. The protest, which garnered the participation of around 500 people, aimed to draw the attention of the state government to the pressing issue. Hearing the petition Monday, the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC ordered a status quo ante \u2014 which essentially means an order to restore the previously existing state of affairs \u2014 by directing the executive officer of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple to put up the display board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n