Supreme Court Appoints Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul to Mediate Thengalai–Vadagalai Temple Dispute
The Supreme Court has appointed former judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul as a mediator to resolve a long-standing dispute between two Vaishnavite sects, Thengalai and Vadagalai, over temple rituals at the Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.
The core issue is whether members of the Vadagalai sect can recite their own mantram and prabandham during the official ceremonial worship. Traditionally, this ritual has been carried out exclusively by Thengalai office holders under the Adhiapaka Mirasi system.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that mediation was the most appropriate way forward. The Court also allowed Justice Kaul to take assistance from two additional persons who are familiar with the local language and temple traditions to help reach an amicable settlement.
This order comes after a December 2025 judgment of the Madras High Court, which upheld the exclusive rights of the Thengalai community to perform ceremonial recitations at the temple. The High Court had ruled that allowing Vadagalai members to introduce separate invocations during official rituals would go against settled court orders and could disturb public order.
The Supreme Court observed that individual worshippers, including Vadagalai members, are free to participate in prayers by repeating what is recited by the authorised temple office holders. However, the responsibility of official ceremonial recitation remains with the Adhiapaka staff.
While hearing the case, the Supreme Court repeatedly stressed that the dispute should not turn into a sectarian conflict. It noted that the followers of Ramanujacharya should approach the issue with fraternity and coexistence rather than prolonged litigation.
Both sides agreed to mediation and supported the appointment of a former judge familiar with temple customs, Tamil religious practices, and earlier judicial decisions. Justice Kaul’s prior role as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court was cited as a key reason for his suitability.
Until the mediation concludes, the Supreme Court has ordered that the existing arrangement must continue without any change. The Court also directed that there should be no police presence inside the temple, observing that such intervention could worsen tensions rather than maintain peace.
The Bench cautioned both sects against taking any steps that could lead to a law-and-order issue and granted liberty to approach the Court again if a settlement is reached or if State intervention becomes necessary.
