The Madurai Bench of the High Court of Madras has barred the use of cell-phones within the premises of the famed historical Madurai Meenatchi Temple.

The order comes in the wake of last week’s fire near the world-renowned temple which gutted and damaged the roof of the 1000-pillar ‘Mandapam’, which is part of the famed temple. “Except officials running the temple, no other individual or devotee is supposed to take his/her mobile phones into the temple’s premises,” the Court said.

Security arrangements have been strengthened further following last Friday’s fire accident. A Bench comprising Justice Kirupakaran and Justice Tharani passed the order yesterday banning use of cell-phones within the premises of the temple.

The Court also recommended provision of security by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to the temple. It directed the Govt. of Tamil Nadu to make a request in this regard to the Centre. It also recommended setting up of state-of-the-art fire extinguishers within the temple and to remove all structures above 9 metre high within a radius of one kilometer surrounding the temple.