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

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.