On Wednesday, the Central Government of India opposed a Tamil Nadu law that enables government boards to appoint ‘archakas’ (priests) to temples, arguing that such appointments should be a community decision rooted in religious tradition. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asserted that the Supreme Court's previous classification of these appointments as a secular act is misguided, emphasizing that true secularism involves the state refraining from interfering in religious practices. He argued that the community should have the right to appoint priests based on established qualifications and rituals. A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, acknowledged the necessity of holding priests accountable for misconduct but agreed that the court should not impose social reforms that could undermine the fundamental beliefs of devotees. Mehta posed questions regarding the judiciary's expertise in determining religious matters, highlighting the diverse nature of worshippers at various shrines, which complicates the issue of denominational identity.