The Madurai Bench of the High Court of Madras has stayed the decision to close down all shops surrounding temple across the State.

Decision was taken by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Board (HR&CEB) some time back to order closure of all shops surrounding various temples across the State so as to make it easy for devotees to approach and worship at the temples.  The decision followed a fire accident which occurred outside historic Madurai Meenatchi Amman Temple on 02nd February, destroying some famed structures.

HR&CEB issued notices to temple-owners across the State to close down shops surrounding temples.  Those running shops around temples in and around Madurai and elsewhere filed a petition with the Madurai Bench of the High Court of Madras requesting that they be allotted alternative places for agreeing to vacate their shops.

Taking up the petition, the High Court directed the HR&CEB to reply by 16th March about its plans to accommodate the traders/shop-owners by providing alternative places to run their shops.