HC orders all shops inside Meenakshi temple to vacate tomorrow

The Madras High Court today ordered all 115 shops inside the Sri Meenakshi temple here to vacate before noon tomorrow in view of a recent fire in one of the mandapams in the premises.
Justice Bharathidasan, who heard a writ petition filed by Meenakshi Temple Shopkeepers Welfare Association president Rajunagulu, said the shops should be vacated before noon, and added that they should leave their articles at the place mentioned by the authorities.
The petitioner submitted there were 115 members in the association and they were selling various items, including turmeric powder, puja articles, artificial jewellery, books and flowers.
Stating that they were paying Rs 2 lakh as rent, the petititioner contended that the temple administration, which was collecting an exorbitant rent, did not provide any safety facility or security.

The fire occurred at 10.20pm on February 2 due to an electrical short-circuit in one of the shops and spread to other shops, the petitioner said.
Only 19 shops were destroyed and the fire was doused as the shopkeepers acted fast, the petitioner submitted.

Power supply was not disconnected even after noticing the short-circuit, the petitioner said, adding that the electrician was not on duty at the time of accident.
Had the electrician been present, the fire could have been averted, the petitioner said.
The petitioner claimed the mishap had occurred due to the mistake of the temple management and said they were trying to get the shops vacated after facing anger from the public.

The association sought to stay the notice issued by the temple executive officer to the 115 shopkeepers to vacate immediately.
Meanwhile, an expert committee which inspected the impact of the fire in the temple today, said it had not affected the nearby 1,000-pillar mandapam in any way.
Speaking to reporters, the committee members said they had identified the affected areas in the fire-ravaged Veera Vasantharayar Mandapam and renovation work would be taken up.
They also had made recommendations on the safety code to be followed.