The Odisha High Court has set aside the order of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and allowed temple servitor Ramakrishna Panda to continue with his service in the shrine.
The SJTA headed by Chief Administrator Aravind Padhee had suspended Panda for dereliction of duty. Panda moved the High Court pleading that he was not given an opportunity to place his side of the story and was deprived of getting natural justice. Justice SC Parija set aside the order of SJTA Chief Administrator and remitted back the case to the Chief Administrator to consider it afresh after giving Panda an opportunity of hearing. The court did not pass any opinion on the merit of the case. The SJTA has allowed Panda to discharge his regular duties in the temple till disposal of the case.