VHP To Move SC Against Entry Of Non-Hindus Into Jagannath Temple

Bhubaneswar: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday said it would file a review petition in the Supreme Court to reconsider a proposal on the entry of the non-Hindus into the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

“The state government will be requested to reconsider its proposal to this effect failing which we will file a review petition in the Supreme Court,” VHP State working president Badrinath Patnaik told mediapersons here.

The Supreme Court on June 5 had urged the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to consider allowing non-Hindus into the temple since Hinduism does not eliminate any other faith and religion.

Asked about the implementation of the reforms in the temple as directed by the apex court, Law minister Pratap Jena said the Law department is yet to receive the order.

“After the order is received, it will be examined. This is the interim order of the Supreme Court. The state government will take a decision after the apex court gives the final verdict,” he added.

Stating that the state government is keen on the reforms in the Jagannath temple, he said if necessary, the government will amend the Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.

On the entry of the non-Hindus into the Jagannath temple, Jena said this is a proposal given by the apex court. The state government will take a decision after a unanimous decision is taken on this issue.

On the proposal of the Puri District Judge to the Supreme Court to stop the hereditary services of the Jagannath temple servitors, BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said stopping the hereditary practice is difficult and it will create chaos.

Maintaining that the hereditary service of the servitors is clearly mentioned in section 15 Clause 1 of the Jagannath Temple Act, 1952, he said why the Advocate General, who was representing the state government at the time of the submission of the report by the Puri District Judge, did not oppose the recommendation of the Apex Court on this matter?

He further said since Jagannath temple is the only temple in the country where the servitors perform 120 rituals of the Lords. Hence comparing this temple with other temples in the country is ‘wrong’, he pointed out.

Mohapatra urged the Puri Gajapati Maharaja to urgently intervene in the matter since he is the first servitor of Lord Jagannath and the leader of the servitor community.

“I am sure that some people outside Odisha are behind this conspiracy to deprive the servitors of their rights. Considering this, the Shankaracharya of the Gobardhan Peeth, the Gajapati Maharaja, the chief secretary, Law secretary and the Advocate General should jointly discuss the matter and take a final decision,” he added.