MADURAI
Devotees visiting the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple will not be allowed to bring mobile phones with them from March 3.
A circular from the temple administration and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department said that the move was implemented bearing in mind the need to step up security measures in the temple. A raging fire damaged much of the eastern wing and ever since authorities had been enhancing its disaster and security preparedness.
On February 20, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the temple administration to ban the use of mobile phones inside the premises. Special Government Pleader V.R. Shanmuganathan told the court that the administration had purchased 1,000 vaults to store mobile phones of devotees. These lockers have been placed in the west and north towers of the temple.
The temple administration in the circular suggested that tourists could secure their mobile phones in vehicles used by them or places of stay. Locals could leave their devices at home.
