The Supreme Court, on Wednesday (January 28, 2026), appointed former apex court judge, Justice (retd.) Sanjay Kishan Kaul, to mediate a dispute between the Vadakalai and Thenkalai Vaishnavite sects over the recitation of mantram and prabandham during ceremonial worship at Devarajaswamy Temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. The court said Justice Kaul could take the assistance of two persons well-versed with the religious, cultural and linguistic history of Tamil Nadu to aid him in the endeavour. “The High Court found that Thenkalais must recite Srisailesa Dayapatram before reciting Prabandham and recognised the Vadakalais’ right to participate. It further submitted that the Madras High Court wrongly upheld the Executive Trustee’s order, and thus empowered a secular authority to interfere in the religious affairs of a denominational temple.

Source: The Hindu January 29, 2026 01:21 UTC