The Vijay authorities has banned the carrying and use of smartphones inside 52 main temples throughout Tamil Nadu, with the brand new guidelines coming into impact on Tuesday. Devotees carrying smartphones should deposit them at designated counters and pay Rs 5 per telephone, whereas cellphones with out cameras can be allowed inside.
The restriction was introduced by Hindu Non secular and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister Ramesh and comes according to earlier instructions of the Madras Excessive Court docket. The choice adopted issues over devotees, notably children, taking pictures, capturing reels and recording movies inside temple premises, in violation of pointers.
In a press release, Ramesh clarified that cellphones with out cameras could be permitted contained in the temples.
Beneath the brand new system, devotees carrying smartphones should deposit them at devoted counters arrange at temple entrances. An acknowledgement slip/plastic token can be issued to the devotees, which they need to retain when accumulating their telephones again.
On the famed Devarajaswamy-Athi Varadar Temple in Kanchipuram, the system was rolled out from 6 am on Tuesday. Two laptop operators and two assistants have been deployed to gather the telephones. The devotee’s {photograph}, cell phone mannequin and telephone quantity are registered, and the telephone is returned after the acknowledgement slip is produced and the small print are verified.
Multilingual discover boards informing devotees concerning the smartphone ban have been put up at parking areas and different distinguished places across the temple.
The restriction has drawn blended reactions from devotees. The Hindu reported that whereas some welcomed the transfer as a means of sustaining the sanctity and peaceable environment of temples, others questioned the safety of telephones deposited with temple authorities and the opportunity of lengthy queues on the counters.
The HR&CE division mentioned the instructions have been issued in accordance with a December 2, 2022, order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras Excessive Court docket. Earlier circulars had additionally instructed temples to limit devotees from carrying cellphones inside and make preparations for his or her protected storage.
The Excessive Court docket issued the order after listening to a public curiosity litigation filed by Seetharaman, looking for a ban on using smartphones contained in the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur.
An HR&CE round mentioned some devotees have been nonetheless utilizing cellphones inside temple premises to take pictures, file movies, take selfies and shoot quick movies or reels for social media. Such actions, it mentioned, affected the peaceable and religious environment of temples and triggered inconvenience to different devotees.
Temple authorities have been directed to place up clear boards at entrances and out of doors temple premises stating that cell phone use is prohibited. The restriction can be to be introduced via public deal with techniques.
The division has moreover barred the taking of pictures and movies of deities and the recording of rituals inside temple premises. Permission shouldn’t be given for pictures or movies involving VIPs, public figures or movie personalities, based on the directions, The Hindu reported.
An official advised the newspaper that some devotees had initially objected to the restriction, however temple authorities have been explaining the exemption and anticipated folks to regularly adapt to the brand new system.
TEMPLE STAFF, DEVOTEES APPREHENSIVE ABOUT NEW RULES
Temple workers have expressed issues over the duty of safeguarding smartphones, The Hindu reported. A temple workers member advised the newspaper that dealing with giant numbers of smartphones would create appreciable duty and stress for workers.
Not like footwear, which might often get blended up, cellphones are worthwhile private units and any mistake in dealing with them may result in issues, the workers member mentioned.
A devotee who visits the Vadapalani Andavar Temple advised The Hindu that paying Rs 5 on daily basis to deposit a telephone could be cumbersome for native residents. She steered that devotees may as an alternative be requested to modify off their telephones and hold them of their baggage, mentioning that cellphones are actually used for way more than making calls.
The HR&CE division has clarified that the Rs 5 cost shouldn’t be meant to generate income. Ramesh mentioned the quantity could be used to satisfy bills concerned in working the phone-deposit system, together with the appointment of separate personnel on the 52 temples and expenditure on safety lockers and different infrastructure, The Hindu reported.
The brand new system has additionally raised logistical issues, with devotees looking for extra counters at crowded temples to stop lengthy queues and delays. Temple administrations have been directed to arrange further counters wherever required.
The restriction is aimed toward stopping unauthorised images and video recording inside temples and guaranteeing that devotees can worship in a peaceable and religious environment.
– Ends
(with inputs from ANI)
