Plea seeks monetary aid to Palani temple barbers

Madurai: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Madras high court seeking to provide monetary assistance to licensed barbers of the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple at Palani in Dindigul district since their livelihood is affected due to Covid-19 pandemic.
In his petition, N Periyasamy stated that he was a licensed barber engaged in tonsuring the heads of the devotees visiting the temple.There are nearly 310 licensed barbers working under the temple devasthanam.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the government had ordered the closure of all religious places. The authorities had distributed Rs 1,000 monetary assistance for two months and the same has been stopped.
Since their livelihood is affected, they submitted a representation to the authorities seeking monetary assistance of Rs 600 per day. As there was no response, the petitioner moved the high court Madurai bench.
When the case was taken up for hearing on Monday, the special government pleader submitted that the payment of monetary assistance involves the policy decision of the government and sought time to get instructions in this regard.
Taking cognizance of the submission, a division bench of justice M Sathyanarayanan and justice P Rajamanickam ordered notice to the state government.