Cops Entering Jagannath Temple With Shoes: SC Defers Hearing To Nov 30

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred its hearing on the entry of the police into Jagannath Temple in Puri, carrying arms and wearing shoes, to November 30.

The apex court said that since amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam had informed about his ill-health, it will now hear the petition on November 30.

It may be mentioned here that the lawyer Debasish Mishra in a petition had requested the Supreme Court to direct the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to stop the dhadi darshan (queue system) following protests from people and the temple servitors, which had triggered violence on October 3.

Stating that the police, while resorting to lathi-charge on the protesters, had entered into the temple with weapons and shoes, the petitioner had requested the apex court to give specific direction to the SJTA and the state government.

Hearing the petition, a division bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta, on October 10 had directed the state government and the SJTA to file their counter in two weeks through an affidavit.

Acting on the directive of the apex court, the SJTA and the state government had submitted an affidavit mentioning that the directive of the court for implementation of its reform measures in the temple, including ‘dhadi darshan’ was being strictly followed.

The court was also informed about police action against those involved in the violence and arrest more than 90 protesters so far.