The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to act on a petition that alleges failure of the State Government in maintaining safety of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple at Puri where frequent mishaps are taking place due to fall of stone slabs.
The apex human rights watch dog passed the order while adjudging a petition filed by activist-lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy of Bhadrak.
The petitioner cited that due to failure of the State Government in maintaining safety in the shrine, Sumitra and Sonali, two lady devotees were injured on October 8 last year at the Natamandir after a lime stone fell on them. He alleged that such accidents were occurring frequently inside the temple.
The petitioner also cited a few other accidents inside the temple premises. On October 26, 1998, a big limestone fell from the main temple wall injuring one Raghunath Patra of Puri seriously. He was sitting in front of the Bimla Temple, when the mishap occurred. Similarly, about six years ago, a huge stone slab fell from the Anlabedha of the temple raising a lot of hue and cry throughout the State. last year, another stone slab fell from a wall near the Ananda Bazar killing a devotee.
Similarly, on November 2, 2011, panic struck devotees when a pot-shaped stone, weighing about a ton, came crashing down from a part of the 12th century shrine making them run helter-skelter. The temple authorities said a beggar identified as Bula Pothala of Dhenkanal was injured in the incident.
The petitioner held the State Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) responsible for the bad shape of the temple and requested the NHRC to investigate into the case and direct the State and the ASI to ensure adequate safety measures and continuous monitoring of the safety aspect in the world famous temple, besides providing appropriate medical treatment free of cost and compensation to the victims.