Proposal for banning entry of non-Hindus at Char Dham, questions it raises, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Temple committees of Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand proposed banning entry of non-Hindus to temple premises.
• The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) cited demands from local priests as the primary reason for the proposal.
• Heads of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham committees will consider similar proposals.
• Concerns have been raised regarding the legality and implementation of the proposed ban.
• In January 2024, the Madras High Court allowed a ban on non-Hindus around the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Tamil Nadu.

Detailed Insights:

• The United Provinces Shri Badrinath [and Kedarnath] Temples Act of 1939 governs the administration of the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples.
• Article 25 of the Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion, while Article 19(1)(d) ensures the right to move freely throughout India.
• The essential religious practices doctrine, originating in the 1950s, determines which religious practices are integral and protected under Article 25.
• The 2018 Sabarimala temple case clarified that barring women was not an essential religious practice.
• A similar proposal to bar non-Hindus was previously raised for Har ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar, which saw 3.49 crore visitors in 2024.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 25: Guarantees the freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion.
• Article 19(1)(d): Ensures all citizens have the right to move freely throughout the territory of India.
• Essential Religious Practices Doctrine: Protects religious practices considered integral to a community's faith.