Chennai, Sept 4:
The Tamil Nadu government will abide by the directions of the Madras High Court on the controversy over the omission of Meenakshi Amman Temple trustees’ names from the invitation for the September 17 Kumbabhishekam, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister S Ramesh said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Ramesh said the government would follow the court’s directions concerning the consecration and related administrative issues.
His remarks came a day after the Madurai Bench took exception to the omission of the trustees’ names from the invitation and directed that their names be included in the inscription to be installed after the ceremony.
Ramesh said temples should not be turned into platforms for political activities.
On restrictions on mobile phones, the Minister said the ban had been extended across temples in Tamil Nadu following a case concerning the Tiruchendur temple. However, he said mobile phones could be permitted inside temples during festivals and other special occasions.
He also defended the Rs 5 fee collected from devotees, saying the practice was followed in several States and that the money would be used for temple employees’ salaries and facilities, including food for poor devotees.