Court wants online booking of slots and devotees for submission of vaccination certificates
The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the state government and Tiruvannamalai district administration to allow 20,000 devotees (5,000 from Tiruvannamalai district and 15,000 from other districts and states) to circumambulate the holy hill attached to the Arunachaleswara temple during the annual Karthigai Deepam festival. Gave. Friday and Saturday.
Acting Chief Justice M. Duraiswami and Justice Satya Narayan Prasad ordered that devotees be allowed to book their slots on virtual mode and entry be allowed only on production of such online tickets. Those successful in online booking will have to submit the COVID-19 Double Immunization Certificate.
The authorities concerned were ordered to ensure that all the devotees are subjected to temperature check at the entry point and the COVID-19 protocol is followed as per the guidelines issued by the state government. It was ordered that no devotee should be allowed to climb the holy hill and surveillance should be strengthened on the many routes leading to the top of the hill.
“Visitors/devotees should not immobilize the route of Girivalam (Parikrama) and the authorities should ensure smooth movement of other devotees during the said period. Three hundred katlaidaars in a day will be allowed inside the temple on November 19 and 20, 2021,” the order read.
The court ordered that devotees should not use plastic products banned in the temple town and the district administration should make adequate security arrangements for smooth functioning of safe drinking water, modern toilet facilities, vehicle parking lots etc. during festival days. Of the festival
The first division bench said, “Facility of washing hands at frequent intervals along the way and queue shall be provided by the temple administration.” The orders were passed while disposing of a PIL filed by Indhu Makkal Katchi spokesperson D. Senthilkumar against the ban on the gathering of devotees.
Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram said the district administration was forbidding devotees from visiting the temple as the festival would be telecast live.
When the court was told that the petitioner himself would not be able to participate in the festival if the double vaccination certificate was insisted upon, the judges asked him to get the vaccine immediately if he desired to visit the temple.
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