The court was considering a plea submitted by Thangamani, a resident of the Erode district, who claimed that she and her son had been denied access to the neighborhood temple and the approaching temple festival by certain people because of her widowed status.
The petitioner-woman further informed the court that she had received threats from certain people who thought that her entry inside a temple may render the temple grounds unclean. Even though her late husband had previously served as the temple’s priest, she was unable to do so.
The judge stated that a woman has “a status and identity that cannot in any way come down or be taken away depending upon her marital status. “And hence the locals have no right to stop her from visiting temple. The court stated that It is regrettable that this State still adheres to the antiquated notion that a widow entering a temple will result in impure energy. Even though reformers are working to dispel all these absurd ideas, they are nonetheless followed in certain places. It essentially denigrates a woman only because she has lost her spouse since these are the dogmas and norms that man created to suit his convenience. All of this is unsustainable in a society that is civilized and ruled by the rule of law. The Court further ruled that legal action must be taken against anybody who makes such an attempt to prevent a widow from entering the temple, according to the law.
The court ordered the neighborhood police to contact the people who had intimidated the petitioner and make it very clear to them that they can’t stop her and her son from visiting the temple and engaging in the festival.
Long story short women’s identity doesn’t depend on her marital status and widows should also enjoy the same privileges as a happy married woman.
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This is written by Ms. Meera Benjarge Studying in 3rd semester of B.A.LL. B from Manikchand Pahade Law College.
