Devotees should enter the temple in proper attire to maintain the sanctity of the temple : Madras High Court

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Devotees expect implementation of the High Court’s order for temples nationwide.

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Chennai –The Madras High Court has ordered that devotees enter temples in a proper attire to maintain their sanctity. It has also stated that temple managements could put in place regulatory measures for ensuring decorum.

Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy issued the directions while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan of Srirangam in Tiruchi District.

The petitioner had sought for a direction to all temples in the State to put up notice boards insisting that men wear outfits such as dhoti, kurta-pyjama and women wear sari, half-sari, salwar-kameez and so on.

He said that children should also be insisted upon to wear fully covered clothing while visiting the temples. The Judges held, such a general direction prescribing a common dress code for all temples could not be issued.

However, individual temples, which had a prescribed dress code for devotees, must put up notice boards for enforcing the code, they ordered. Other temples, which had not prescribed any dress code, should strictly follow the provisions of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act of 1959.

Devotees Expected To Enter Temples In Proper Dress Code; Temples Having Dress Code May Fix Visible Sign Boards : Madras High Court @Sebin_James_ https://t.co/908gXiWdmV

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) March 5, 2022