Odisha Govt Issues Guidelines For Picking New Members Of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee

Puri: The Odisha government has begun the process for formation of new Shree Jagannath temple managing committee with the term of the incumbent panel coming to an end in August.

The Law Department has  issued guidelines for recommending names of persons for nomination as members of the panel under Section 6 (1) (j) of Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1955. The managing committee, headed by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb as the permanent chairman, usually has 18 members and 7 among them are selected from sevayats and mutts.

According to sources, the temple chief administrator has been asked to recommend names of 10 members of various Nijogs that have major stake in the ‘seva puja’ of the sibling deities. The Nijogas will be asked to send the names of at least two of its members. There is also a provision for conduct of a lottery if the administrator is unable to select the names.

The guidelines also mention a rotation system to enhance the chance of representation of the Nijogs. The administrator has to ensure that two persons of the same Nijog are not recommended. “No person shall be recommended for two consecutive terms and no one would be recommended for more than two terms.”

The list of 10 members will be prepared taking into account their past conduct, sincerity in conducting rituals and their relationship with other servitors within and outside the Nijog.

The Chief Administrator shall request the Nijogas to send the names of at least two of its members.

The state government will also recommend the names of two persons, who have brought laurels in social service, for their nomination to the managing committee.

The current managing committee was nominated on August 12, 2021.