CHENNAI, Dec 4: The Madras High Court has ordered ban on mobiles in the temples in Tamil Nadu.
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court directed the Commissioner of Hindu
Religious & Charities Endowments Department to ban mobile phones inside the
temple premises to maintain the purity and sanctity and to “prevent nuisance
to devotees”.
A public interest petition had sought the ban in the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy
temple in Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi district. Petitioner M Seetharaman, said
the use of mobile phones endangers the security of the temple and its valuables
too.
"In order to ensure the safety of the devotees and protect the sanctity of
the temple, the authorities should take steps to prevent the use of cell phones
inside the temple premises. The use of cell phones and cameras distracts the
devotees", the court order issued by judges R Mahadevan and J Sathyanarayana
Prasad said.
The court cited the ban on mobile phones in Sri Krishna temple in Guruvayur,
Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Madurai and Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.
There counters in these temples to deposit mobile phones before entering the
premises.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated medical centres
in five temples virtually for the convenience of devotees.
The temples are Madurai Meenakshi temple, Irukkankudi Mariamman temple, Bannariamman
temple, Madurai Kallazhagar temple and the Sankaranarayana Swamy temple at Sankarankovil.
