Jagannath Temple Reforms: Puri Servitors Meet CM

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of Supreme Court’s proposal on reforms in Jagannath Temple functioning, a 22-member delegation of servitors of the Chhatisha Nijog met Chief Minister Naveen Patnatik at Naveen Niwas here on Sunday.

Accompanied by Puri MP Pinaki Mishra and Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty, the delegation, led by Rama Chandra Singhari, discussed the proposals of the apex court on the abolition of the practice of hereditary services of the servitors and the entry of non-Hindus into the temple.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Singhari said that the proposal of the apex court on the abolition of the practice of hereditary services was under discussion.

On the entry of the non-Hindus into the temple, he said the entire servitor community vehemently opposed it and will continue to do so.

“We will present our opinion before the Supreme Court with a request that there should not be any discussion on this proposal. We will also apprise the same to the state government. The government, the servitor community and the people Odisha want that the age-old tradition of the Jagannath Temple should be maintained,” he pointed out.

He also said that the delegation apprised the chief minister of the 4-5 demands of the Chhatisha Nijog.

“The Supreme Court has not been properly communicated about the practice of the hereditary services in Jagannath Temple which is in vogue since centuries. The three-member committee should hear the issue and accordingly submit its report to the apex court,” the Puri MP said.

Let the amicus curiae Gopal Subramanyam visit Puri and discuss the matter with the servitors before submitting his report to the apex court.

Mishra said the chief minister during the meeting told the servitors that this is a fair and reasonable request and assured that the state government will extend all necessary support to them.