HC notice to TN authorities on closing shops in premises of

The Madras High Court today issued notice to authorities on a PIL seeking a direction to close shops inside premises of temples in the state in view of the fire mishap at the Meenakshi shrine here recently.
A division bench of the court's Madurai bench comprising justices Sathayanarayana and Hemalatha also directed officials to file a report on the fire safety code and infrastructure for preventing fire accidents in temples in the state.
Abdul Kalam Azad in his petition said during the recent fire in the Meenakshi temple several shops had been destroyed.
Inflammable items in the shops worsened the impact of the fire, he said.

A fire safety code was not in place in the shrine, he submitted.
The petitioner said temples are heritage symbols and these should be protected at all costs.

Issuing notice, the bench directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Department Commissioner and Director of Fire Services to file their counter on February 27.
A massive fire broke out inside the premises of the Meenakshi temple in which about 40 shops were gutted on the night of February 2.
However, no one was injured.
A preliminary probe had revealed that the blaze occurred due to an electrical short-circuit in one of the shops situated near the 1,000-pillar hall.