Odisha BJP Leader Says SJTA Chief Appointment Violates SC Orders; Know Why

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra on Monday accused the Odisha government of violating the Supreme Court (SC)’s orders in the appointment of Vir Vikram Yadav as the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri.

Addressing media persons here, Mohapatra said that the SC, in an order passed on November 4, 2019, had directed the Odisha government to appoint officers as full-time Chief Administrator of SJTA and not with additional charge.

Besides holding additional charge of SJTA Chief Administrator, Yadav, who is currently the Principal Secretary of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS&CW) department, has also been appointed as the Principal Secretary, Works department.

He will also be in additional charge of Commissioner (Trade Promotion and Investment), Member Secretary (Odisha State Commissioner for Backward Classes) and Chairman (OSWC).

Mohapatra said that Yadav’s appointment was a clear violation of the SC order and the Odisha government can be charged with contempt for this.

The BJP leader said that only the Principal Secretary (Works) can perform the role of SJTA Chief Administrator. He questioned the motive behind appointing officers to the post with additional charge and alleged that those who were behind this were doing so for illegal financial gains.

Mohapatra also alleged widespread indiscipline in the running of the Jagannath Temple administration and pointed out other violations of SC orders.

He drew attention to Sunday’s incident, in which in a serious security lapse which has upset devotees, unidentified persons vandalised several ‘chulhas’ (earthen ovens) inside the ‘Rosaghara’ (kitchen) of the Jagannath Temple.

Mohapatra also attacked the way the state government was carrying out the Puri Heritage Corridor Project.

He cited an SC order, in which the apex court had directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to permit activities of the government that were prima facie not objectionable.

The BJP leader said that if the government was still going ahead with the project despite widespread protests and objections, then it was a clear violation of SC orders.

According to Mohapatra, the SC had clearly said that such improvement should only be carried out without hurting the religious sentiments of the people of Odisha, devotees, religious traditions, rights of sevaks and temple traditions.

Mohapatra also targeted the ASI and National Monument Authority (NMA), saying that being expert authorities it is their responsibility to ensure the Heritage Corridor Project doesn’t violate safety norms and endangers the 12th-century shrine. He questioned why these two bodies were silent on the issue despite protests and opposition, and were yet to send teams to the site for inspection.

He also raised the issue of audit of temple funds. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is yet to audit the temple funds, he said, adding that now no one knows how much revenue the temple earns and the expenditure.

Mohapatra urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to call an urgent review meeting to discuss all these issues and ensure the ASI and NMA send teams to inspect the Heritage Corridor Project work immediately.