More CCTVs In Jagannath Temple To Keep A Tab On Servitors

Puri: Adhering to the Supreme Court directive, the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee on Saturday decided to install 23 more CCTV cameras inside the temple premises to keep a tab on servitors.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Pradipta Mohapatra said a decision to this effect was taken as the apex court has debarred servitors from accepting any donation, either cash or in kind, from the devotees. It has directed the temple administration to install CCTV cameras at different locations inside the temple to monitor the activities of the servitors.

“The temple administration had also requested the devotees to either put their donation inside the hundi (donation box) of the temple or deposit it at the temple office and receive a receipt as proof,” Mohapatra added.

On the issue of the Ratna Bhandar keys, the chief administrator said the temple’s managing committee will take future course of action after the judicial commission of inquiry submits its report to the state government.

The committee also discussed the return of the land belonging to the Gobardhan Peeth, the Math of Shankaracharya. “A special team has been formed under the chairmanship of the Puri Gajapati Maharaja. The land will be returned to Gobardhan Peeth after a meeting between the team and the Shankaracharya,” Mohapatra informed.

“This apart, the committee discussed the conduct of the Lord’s Snana Yatra festival, timely conduct of rituals during Rath Yatra and smooth conduct of the festival, he said, adding that the temple administration has apprised the managing committee of the decision taken at the Chhatisha Nijog meeting.

Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb, Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal, SP Sarthak Sarangi and senior servitors of the Jagannath Temple were among others present at the meeting.