The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday stayed its earlier order directing the Tamil Nadu government to enforce dress code for devotees visiting temples under its control.

The high court bench issued an interim stay on an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the November 2015 single-judge order to implement the dress code.

The high court in November 2015 had ordered wearing of “decent clothes” at temples.

According to these orders, male devotees are to wear shirts, dhotis or trousers while females are expected to wear sarees and other traditional attire.

Wearing of ‘lungis’ (wraparounds), bermudas, jeans and tight leggings are banned.