Contempt Plea: Orissa HC Issues Order To Make Puri Jagannath Temple Disabled-Friendly

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has directed the authorities of Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri to take a decision on making the 12th-century shrine disabled-friendly within a month.

Disposing of a contempt petition, filed by Jitendra Kumar Biswal, a resident of Bargarh, drawing the High Court’s attention to non-compliance of its earlier order on the matter issued on February 28, a single-judge bench of Justice Biswanath Rath issued the direction.

The court directed the Temple Managing Committee along with Puri district collector to comply with its order to take a collective decision to make Jagannath temple wheelchair accessible maximum within a period of one month.

Biswal, who claimed to be 100 per cent disabled and dependent on battery-operated wheelchair, in his earlier petition sought direction from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to make the temple complex accessible for persons with disabilities.

Biswal had sought direction from the authorities to make designated space within the inner sanctum of the temple for wheelchair-dependent devotees so that they can offer prayer and have a clear view of the three deities. He also sought provisions for free movement of wheelchair-bound devotees.

Hearing the petition, Justice Rath had termed it to be “a genuine case”. “In view of the urgency involved in this matter and as a decision in the matter is required to be taken by the administrative authority at the first hand, this court directs the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, Chief Administrator of Puri Jagannath temple and Puri collector to collectively take a lawful decision in the matter by treating the petition as a representation at the instance of the petitioner,” he said.

The court had directed to complete the entire exercise within one month. As the High Court’s direction was not complied with within the stipulated period, Biswal again moved the court by filing the contempt petition in August.