The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Government to appoint a permanent head for the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) of Puri to manage affairs of the shrine instead of current additional-charge post.
The apex court issued 23 fresh directives on Shreemandir reforms based on the reports of the Puri District Judge and the Amicus Curiae, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati and responses from the State Government, Daitapati Nijog and Temple Managing Committee.
The single-Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra further asked the Government for submission of an action-taken report on January 8, 2020.
The court asked the SJTA and the State Government to come up with accommodation facility for 60,000 pilgrims and set up a waste treatment plant in Puri. Besides, the court directed the Government to establish schools and colleges to promote the Jagnnath culture.
The court authorised the SJTA Chief Administrator to take appropriate steps against the servitors or incumbents who create obstruction in seva/puja/niti and are involved in misbehaviour and misconduct against the employees of the temple administration or with devotees.
The court advised the Temple Management Committee to invite the Shankaracharya and other stakeholders, including the Gajapati Maharaja, for smooth conduct of nitis, puja and rituals. The committee was also to allot suitable place for the school for children of servitors for their proper education.
The court also directed to prepare a list of quarries and mines of the Jagannath Temple as to how they are being managed, who is operating them, on what basis, etc.
Observing that there is necessity for qualified servitors, the court directed the Temple Management Committee to ensure that proper training is imparted to the servitors.
It directed the SJTA to ensure that servitors are looked after properly. The Temple Administration has been directed to maintain hygiene in Rosaghar (temple kitchen).
The court stated that the servitors and staff should be provided with Icards so that unscrupulous persons are not able to present themselves as servitors or staff members and the people are not misled on the basis of wrong identity.
It also asked the Temple Management Committee to consider setting up a dairy farm.
The court directed the SJTA Chief Administrator and the State Government to prepare a roadmap with the help of experts for having proper darshan by the devotees/pilgrims and to implement it effectively and to ensure that there is no commotion so that everybody is able to have darshan peacefully without any obstruction by anybody.
Pointing out the necessity for motorcycle stand, the apex court directed to take steps to provide motorcycle-stands within a period of four months to servitors and visitors of the temple.