Bharatiya Bikash Parishad State president Surendra Panigrahi drew the attention of the Chief Justice of India sending visuals of recently held rituals such as Car festival and Pahandi Bije of Lord Jagannath at Puri where the temple Sevayats reportedly neither wore mask nor maintained social distancing as directed by the Supreme Court.
Panigrahi in his letter said that, while pulling the chariot, the Sevayats have clearly violated the SC. The court had asked the Sevayats, Government officials, and police personnel to wear face mask and maintain social distancing while performing the rituals. But the orders of SC have been openly flouted, Panigrahi alleged.
Panigrahi further appealed to the SC to treat his letter as contempt petition and take stern action against the State administration, district administration and temple management.