Madurai High Court orders immediate removal of shops inside Meenakshi Amman Temple

After the recent fire accident officials of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple had served notice to 115 shops functioning inside the temple directing them to vacate the shops immediately. Though they had approached the district administration seeking time, there was no respite for them.

Following that, a petition was filed at the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in which stated that the shops were being run by proprietors for more than five generations and they pay Rs 2 lakh per month as rent to the temple authorities. Despite that, there were no proper facilities given and the primary reason for the fire accident was electric wiring isssue and negligence by the temple authorities. They also said that they are ready to move out of the temple, if provided an alternate space. 

However Judge, Bharathidasan, who was not convinced with the argument, directed the shopkeepers, who were served the notice, to vacate their shops by 12 pm on Friday. They were also directed to keep the things in the place allotted by the Temple authorities and by three weeks all the things should be removed.