HR&CE Department May Waive ₹5 Temple Phone Deposit Fee, Says Minister S Ramesh

Chennai: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department could consider waiving the ₹5 mobile phone deposit fee at temples and introduce alternative arrangements if visitors face inconvenience, Minister S Ramesh announced on Thursday.

Temple administrations across the state have been instructed to ensure devotees do not have to wait in long queues or encounter difficulties when handing over their devices. Officials have been specifically directed not to restrict pregnant women, parents carrying infants, senior citizens, or persons with disabilities.

Ramesh stated that the administration would take devotee feedback into account and make procedural adjustments wherever required. He noted that the ₹5 charge was never intended to generate revenue for the department, adding that the government would assess the possibility of dropping the fee based on the financial health of individual temples.

To manage the deposit facilities, the department has enlisted members of women's self-help groups to run the counters. Revenue collected from the ₹5 deposit fee is allocated toward paying their wages, with any surplus amounts transferred to support the temple annadhanam scheme.

The minister clarified that the mobile phone restrictions are not a new policy decision, but rather the continued implementation of a Madras High Court order passed in December 2022.

Mobile phone counters were already functioning with the ₹5 charge at several major shrines, including the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai, the Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani, and the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. The recent measure extends dedicated counters to 52 senior-grade temples to help devotees visit without digital distractions.