Servitors’ Body Urges Odisha Govt To Move SC Over Rath Yatra Stay Ruling

Puri: Chattisa Nijog, the apex body of priests of Jagannath Temple, has urged the Odisha government to approach the apex court requesting it to reconsider its ruling on this year’s Rath Yatra.

“It seems that the Supreme Court was not properly apprised of the preparations made by temple administration and the Odisha government,” it said in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The chariot construction work is going on in full swing in Puri since May following a go-ahead from the Centre.

“The chariot construction activities were carried out in a protected environment after the carpenters and servitors underwent COVID-19 tests. The administration has been working tirelessly to ensure all rituals are performed in compliance with the health norms issued by the authorities in view of the pandemic,” the servitors’ body said.

It further said that the cancellation of Rath Yatra will adversely affect all future rituals, offerings and festivals.

The Nijog requested the government to approach the apex court immediately to modify its order to allow the conduct of Rath Yatra by imposing strict curfew in Puri city and ensuring absolute non-congregation of people.

The state government on Thursday had decided to abide by the order of the SC not to organise Rath Yatra in any part of Odisha after the three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and Dinesh Maheshwari noted that a procession of this magnitude cannot be permitted at the time of a pandemic.

Also Read: Supreme Court Stays Rath Yatra In Odisha

Meanwhile, Sri Jagannath Sena is observing dawn-to-dusk bandh in Puri from 6 am to 6 pm to protest against the stay order of the court.

Also Read: Cancellation Of Rath Yatra: Puri Bandh Called On Friday

“We have urged the denizens to observe peaceful bandh in protest against the intervention of the court in religious matter and conspiracy of the state government,” said convenor of Sri Jagannath Sena, Priyadarshan Patnaik.