Daijiworld Media Network - Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram, Sep 1: The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has implemented a ban on carrying mobile phones inside 52 major temples across the state from Tuesday, September 1, in line with directions issued by the Madras High Court.

Under the new arrangement, devotees carrying mobile phones must deposit them at designated counters before entering the temple premises. A uniform fee of Rs 5 will be charged for each phone, and devotees will receive a receipt or token to collect the device after darshan. Temple authorities have been instructed to ensure the safe custody and return of the phones while maintaining proper records.

The move is aimed at preventing photography, videography, selfies and the recording of short videos and social media reels inside temple premises. The HR&CE Department said the increasing use of mobile phones, particularly by younger devotees, had affected the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere of temples and caused inconvenience to other devotees.

The restriction does not mean devotees have to leave their phones at home. They can bring them to the temple but must deposit them at the designated facility before entering. The phone can be collected after darshan by producing the receipt or token and completing the required verification.

The system was introduced at the Devarajaswamy-Athi Varadar Temple in Kanchipuram from 6 am on Tuesday. Two computer operators and two assistants have been deployed to manage the facility. At the time of deposit, the devotee's photograph, mobile phone model and phone number are recorded. The device is returned after the acknowledgement details are verified. Multilingual notice boards have also been installed at parking areas and other prominent locations to inform devotees about the new rule.

Preparations have also been made at several other major temples. In Tiruchy district, dedicated phone-deposit counters have been established at temples including the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, Jambukeswarar Temple, Vekkali Amman Temple and Rockfort Temple. The facilities are being monitored through CCTV, with storage capacity planned according to the number of devotees visiting each temple.

At the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, counters are being operated at the South, East and North entrances, with arrangements to store thousands of phones. Similar facilities have been created at other temples, with additional capacity planned during festival periods when visitor numbers increase.

The restriction follows an earlier order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dated December 2, 2022. The order was issued while hearing a public interest litigation seeking a ban on mobile phone use inside the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple at Tiruchendur. Following the court's direction, departmental circulars had instructed temple authorities to prevent devotees from carrying mobile phones inside and make arrangements for their safe storage.

The HR&CE Department said that despite earlier instructions, devotees continued to use mobile phones to take photographs, record videos, click selfies and create reels inside temple premises. Authorities said such activities could disturb the sanctity and tranquillity of religious spaces and inconvenience other devotees.

Temple administrations have therefore been directed to prominently display notices at entrances and other important locations stating that mobile phones are prohibited inside. Public announcement systems will also be used to inform devotees about the restriction.

The list of 52 major temples covered by the restriction includes prominent shrines such as Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple, Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple, Thiruthani Subramania Swamy Temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai, Kallazhagar Temple in Madurai, Parthasarathy Swamy Temple in Chennai, Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur and several other major shrines.

The department has fixed the phone-storage charge at Rs 5 per device. Preparations reported at the major temples indicate that the system is intended to provide devotees with a secure alternative to carrying phones inside while allowing temple administrations to enforce the restriction more effectively.

A Tamil Nadu ministerial clarification reported on September 1 said the restriction does not apply to basic mobile phones without camera facilities. This is a nuance worth keeping in mind alongside the broader announcement of the mobile-phone restrictions at the 52 major temples.