Karnataka government issues guidelines for mosque ahead of re-opening on June 8
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government on Saturday issued guidelines for the mosques to follow, ahead of the Corona lockdown relaxation that will allow religious places to resume operations from June 8.
In an order issued by the Department of Minority Welfare, Haj, and Waqf, Standard Operating Procedures have been stipulated for mosques to be implemented at its premises when it resumes operation from June 8, Monday. The mosques in Corona containment zones however will not be allowed to resume operations till the zone is denotified by the authorities.
The order has also urged people above 60 years of age, pregnant women and children below 10 years to stay at home. It further asserts that simple public health measures that are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 be observed by everyone at mosques at all times.
In the guidelines set by the order, it states that congregational prayers and large gatherings will remain prohibited and people at mosques must maintain a minimum distance of two meters at all times with specific marking on the floor to be made to help people.
While the order also directs to allow staggered entry for visitors to avoid crowding, it also calls for mandatory use of face masks for everyone. It is also stressed that cough etiquette should also be followed strictly.
A trained volunteer shall also be deputed to perform thermal screening at the entry points of the mosque who shall guide people with a temperature of more than 99.5 F or with any other COVID-19 symptoms to seek medical consultation.
The availability of hand sanitizers has also been mandatory at all entry points with provision for handwashing with liquid soap and water to be arranged at the mosque. It also adds that proper crowd management shall also be arranged at parking slots outside the premises to maintain physical distancing.
The order further restricts touching of statues, idols, or holy books inside mosque premises. People shall also carry their praying mats which they shall take back with them and common prayer mats shall not be used.
It also directs the mosque authorities to frequently clean all areas with disinfectants while spitting is prohibited to everyone. The order further added that the mosque shall also advise people to install and use the Aarogya Setu App.
The notification also added that the management of the mosque shall immediately inform the authorities if they suspect any person to be infected by the virus, and added that the authorities will further decide the course of infection including deciding on the need for disinfecting the mosque premises.
The management shall also be responsible for arranging separate slots for keeping shoes/footwear for everyone. The Nikah ceremony is also prohibited from taking place in a mosque, while people are also not be allowed to perform sunnah and nawafil prayers in mosques.
The running of Maktab, Madrasa, or religious classes has also been prohibited until further instructions.
Regarding weekly Friday prayers, the order states that staggered timings for Jumma Namaz shall be held as under if necessary: 12:45 to 01:15 pm., 1:30 to 2:00 pm. The Jumma Qutba—e-Awwal, Saani, and Namaaz shall be completed within 15 minutes.
Imams are asked to restrain from longer zikr and dua to help the next jamath to offer namaz, while muazzins have been asked to open mosques only 15 minutes before the Azan and the doors be closed after the completion of Farz prayers.
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Nursing assistant attempts suicide after 'obscene act' outside Kerala temple, booked
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A case has been registered against a nursing assistant at a government medical college here for allegedly exposing himself at a local shrine and attempting self-harm when confronted, police said Wednesday.
An officer of Thiruvallam police station said that the man allegedly attempted suicide by cutting his wrist and neck with a surgical blade after temple authorities stopped his exhibitionism outside the shrine.
He had made deep wounds on his neck and wrist and post-surgery, he was now in the ICU, police said.
The officer said that on Monday, the nursing assistant, who had been under treatment at a de-addiction centre for alcohol abuse, arrived at the Thiruvallam Parasurama temple and carried out exhibitionism in front of the shrine.
"When the devaswom officials stopped him and tried to detain him till police arrives, he cut his wrist and neck with a surgical blade," the officer said.
A case under sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 298 (defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion of any class) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered against the nursing assistant, police said.
The officer said that the man would be arrested once his health improves.
