Madras High Court allows drums in Muharram procession

HC reprimands the Thowheed Jamath organisation for opposing the traditional way of celebrating Muharram

Chennai – The Madras High Court has passed a landmark verdict in a case in the Eruvadi in Tirunelveli District. The verdict delivered on 16th July has allowed the conduct of Muharram ceremonies on 17th July as per customary mode with the playing of music, drums, and Kuthirai Pancha (chariot procession). The organisation ‘Thowheed Jamath’ had opposed the playing of drums, music etc. in the Muharram ceremonies. Muslims had appealed to the High Court against this organisation, on which, the Court gave the above verdict.

The Court said that radical Muslims who objected to traditional celebrations should stay at home. Fundamental rights shall take precedence over fundamentalist forces, the Court observed.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan said,

1. Petitioner and the others associated with him have the fundamental right to conduct Muharram ceremonies in the customary mode. Article 25 and Article 19(1)(b) and (d) of the Constitution provide them this guarantee. Therefore, Thowheed Jamath cannot dictate to other people from the Muslim community as to how they should conduct the ceremonies.

2. It is unfortunate that the District Administration succumbed to the threats given by the fundamentalist forces. If one’s fundamental rights are under threat, the duty of the Administration is to uphold the rights and put down those interfering with the exercise of the rights.

3. Fundamental rights shall take precedence over fundamentalist forces. If the District Administration accepts the simple and lazy option of not exercising the powers by citing the law-and-order issue, it shows their impotence. (This is a tight slap to all the anti-Hindu administrations across the country ! : Editor)

4. As the language varies from place to place, so do the customs.

5. If the people in Eruvadi believe in music, drums and chariot processions, is it not the Talibani way to expect them to conform to Saudi Arabian customs ?

What is the case ?

A section of Muslims in Eruvadi town of Tirunelveli District traditionally holds Muharram processions, which are played drums and cymbals every year. It is called the ‘Santhanakoodu’ procession or ‘Kuthirai Pancha’; but the Thowheed Jamath organisation opposed it this year. The local Administration also succumbed to the opposition of Thowheed Jamath. Local Muslims approached the High Court against this. The court then reprimanded Thowheed Jamath and the administration and allowed the local Muslims to celebrate Muharram traditionally.

Editorial Perspective

Please note that those who call Hindus ‘Talibanis’ for opposing the use of hijab in schools, do not even utter a word of protest against the Thowheed Jamath !