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NHRC notice to T.N. Govt. on temple ritual

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI SEPT. 14. The National Human Rights Commission which has already issued suo motu notice to the Tamil Nadu Government relating to the temple ritual of burying children for a minute near Madurai has issued a fresh notice to the State on a complaint from two lawyers for taking criminal action against the organisers.

In their complaint, Ashok Agarwal and Aurobindo Ghose said that in the ritual in Perayur village to propitiate Goddesses Muthukuzhi Mariamman and Kaliamman, children were first rendered unconscious and then lowered into makeshift graves and covered completely for 60 seconds before being pulled out.

All this happened in the presence of a State Minister, C. Durairaj (who later resigned).

They said they were agonised that such grossly criminal, irrational, inhuman and undoubtedly cruel and barbaric acts reminiscent of archaic, superstitious religious practices were allowed to continue in the State even after 55 years of Independence.

The above acts of cruelty against children and young persons were not violative of the provisions of the Constitution but also the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act, IPC and Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the Child.

They were of the view that the State Government must take all necessary steps to stop and prevent the recurrence of such acts through sustained educational campaign and deterrent steps under the criminal law against the perpetrators and the organisers.

They urged the Commission to direct the State Government to immediately bring a legislation banning such temple rituals.

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