Jagannath Temple Reforms: Special Committee To Submit Affidavit In SC On Sept 5

Puri: The managing committee of Jagannath Temple on Saturday decided to form a special committee to examine the 12-point reforms proposal of the Supreme Court.

It will submit an affidavit in this regard with the apex court on September 5.

Informing this to the media after the meeting of the temple managing committee presided over by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb here, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Pradipta Mohapatra said a special committee has been formed to examine the two proposals — Dana Dakshina and Annadana Atika — which temple servitors are vehemently opposing.

“The proposal on the amendment of the Temple Act will be referred to another committee for a thorough review,” he said.

The Gajapati Maharaja will be the chairmen of the two special committees with SJTA chief administrator, Puri Collector and SP as its members, he added.

Mohapatra further said that the meeting decided to seek more time from the apex court on abolition of hereditary service of Jagannath Temple servitors.

“Considering the fact that the servitors have strongly opposed the proposal, a sub-committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Gajapati Maharaja. After a thorough analysis of the proposal on the 800-year-old temple tradition, it will submit another affidavit in the apex court. Since Gajapati Maharaja is going out on a month-long foreign tour, it has been decided that the committee will seek more time to submit a separate affidavit on this proposal,” he added.

On the leasing of the temple kitchen, Mohapatra said a sub-committee has been formed to look into the issue. The sub-committee will have SJTA chief administrator, Puri Collector and the representatives of Suara Mahasuara Nijog as the members.

He also said that another sub-committee has been formed on the allotment of identity cards to the servitors and the guides, who accompany the devotees to the temple.

On the issue regarding the report on ‘Brahma Bibhrat’ during the Nabakalebara of the Lords, Mohapatra said that the meeting decided that the sub-committee which is yet to submit its report, will be asked to do so by the end of September and it will be made public in October.