Look Into Management Of Jagannath Temple: SC Tells Puri Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Puri District Court to look into the affairs of management of the Jagannath temple.

The directive of the apex court came after hearing a petition on the mismanagement of the temple and harassment of devotees by the servitors filed by Mrunalini Padhi of Cuttack.

The apex court also asked the Odisha government to constitute an expert team to study the management practices adopted by several major temples in the country that can be implemented in the Jagannath temple. The court asked the state government to submit a report by June 30.

Petitioner’s counsel, Subhransu Padhi said they had moved the apex court on three aspects—harassment of devotees, poor sanitation and gross mismanagement by temple administration which is evident from the missing key of the Ratna Bhandar.

He said the apex court has asked the Puri District Judge to constitute a committee and submit report on what are the deficiencies for which devotees are facing problems and what measures can be taken in this regard.

Apart from this, it has also directed the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to ensure that all the funds received as donations from devotees are utilised for temple’s development and installation of CCTV cameras.

The Supreme Court has appointed amicus curiae, Gopal Subramanium and asked him to study both the reports and suggest the court for necessary direction in the next hearing on July 5, Padhi added.