Madras high court bench stays order for dress code for temple entry

The division bench of the Madras High Court on 11 January stayed the order passed by a single judge on 26 November which set a dress code for temple goers in Tamil Nadu.

The judge had then directed that the state government implement a dress code for all men, women and children from 1 January onward.

The dress code mandates a 'dhoti or pyjama with upper cloth or formal pants and shirts' for men and 'sari or half sari or churidhar with upper cloth' for women. Children were asked to wear covered clothes.

"The temples which do not fall under the purview of the government shall enforce their own dress code. The police shall not allow devotees inside any Hindu Temple of Tamil Nadu who wear dresses other than the one prescribed," the judge ordered, The Hindu reported.