Orissa HC Slams SJTA Over Disruption In Jagannath Temple Rituals

Cuttack: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) was left red-faced as the Orissa High Court on Thursday came down heavily on it over the impasse in the temple due to disruption in the rituals of the Lords.

The stricture came after the SJTA filed an affidavit in the court.

The HC attributed the impasse to wrong interpretation of its order by the SJTA.

Maintaining that its only task is to oversee the repair and preservation work of the temple, the court confirmed that it had not given any directive to the SJTA on conduct of the rituals of the Lords.

Stating that it is the responsibility of the SJTA and the state government to ensure timely completion of the rituals, the court said, as per the suggestion of the Odisha government, it had assented to the implementation of Justice B P Das commission recommendation to bring reforms into the affairs of Jagannath Temple.

The SJTA, in its affidavit, also admitted that following disruption in the rituals of the Lords, servitors could not prepare ‘Mahaprasad’.