Mangaluru/Belagavi: The Karnataka government has banned the use of mobile phones in the temples under the jurisdiction of the Department of Religious and Charitable Endowments, commonly known as the Muzrai department. The department issued a circular on July 17 asking the devotees to switch off their mobile phones while inside the temple for darshan. The state government has asked the temple authorities to display the directive on their notice boards to inform the devotees about the restriction. The order will be applicable for 36,000 temples under the endowment department.
The decision has been taken in view of the increasing use of mobile phones in temple premises which cause inconvenience to other devotees and temple staff, during the temple rituals.
Meanwhile, lauding the state government's decision on mobile phone ban in temples, Sri Rama Sene founder Pramod Muthalik asked for similar banin private temples also.
“I welcome the state government's decision which will help to preserve the sanctity in temples. There are many privately managed temples run by committees and trustees. I request them to take similar steps and ban mobile usage,” he said.
Muthalik said that the activists of Sri Rama Sene would submit a memorandum to all the private temples in this regard. Speaking about the murder of Jain Muni at Hirekodi, Muthalik asked the government to appoint a retired judge to probe the case.
