Execute Jagannath Temple Reform Recommendations: SC

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court, in its interim order, has directed the managing committee of the Jagannath Temple in Puri to implement the recommendations of the Puri District Judge to improve its overall functioning.

A division bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Abdul Nazeer, issued the directive on Thursday.

The bench directed for uploading the report and recommendations of the Puri District Judge on mismanagement in the temple on the websites of the apex court https://supremecourtofindia.nic.in, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) www.jagannath.nic.in and Ministry of Culture https://indiaculture.nic.in within two weeks.

The bench also asked the temple managing committee to ensure a stop to the alleged exploitation of the devotees by the servitors. It also directed the committee and the SJTA to initiate appropriate action against the erring servitors.

Besides, the apex court also asked the temple managing committee to consider whether members of other religions should be allowed to visit the temple subject to regulations.

Present during the hearing, amicus curiae, Gopal Subramanium, appointed by the Supreme Court, said on the basis of the recommendations of the Puri District Judge, he will have a meeting the temple servitors and the persons concerned after Rath Yatra and submit its report to the apex court by August 31.

The recommendations of the Puri District Judge are as follows:

–Hereditary services of the servitors should be stopped and steps to be taken for their recruitment
–Stop the practice of collecting money by the servitors who ask devotees to donate on Thalis (plates) and pitchers and all donation by the devotees should be put in the temple Hundi.
–The temple kitchen should remain under control of the SJTA.
–Provision for separate toilets for male, female and the servitors inside the temple premises.
–Queue system for the devotees for smooth darshan of the Lords
–Audit of the temple fund by the Accountant General
–Special identity cards for the servitors and the temple employees
–Compulsory registration of the guides, accompanying devotees inside the temple
–Bring down the number of excess employees of the SJTA
–Arrangement for a single authority to monitor security arrangements inside the temple
–Amendment of the Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.

The apex court after hearing a PIL on June 8 had directed the Puri District Judge Ambuja Mohan Das to submit a report on the difficulties faced by the devotees, deficiencies in temple management, and suggestions to improve its overall functioning.

Acting on the directive, Das on June 13 had issued a notice and invited suggestions from the people as part of his probe into the alleged exploitation of the devotees by the servitors of the temple.

The report was submitted to the apex court on June 30.