The Jagannath Temple managing committee on Saturday constituted a sub-committee headed by Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb to look into the three proposals of the Supreme Court for reforms in the Shremandir administration, on which no consensus was reached after discussions.
It might be mentioned that the Supreme Court has suggested 12 proposals for reforms in the Shreemandir. While there is consensus over nine proposals, three proposals are being staunchly opposed by the various servitor bodies.
The three proposals opposed by the servitors are abolition of hereditary appointment of servitors, prohibition of collection of money for Annadan Atika by servitors and ban on placing pitchers for donation and amendment of Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.
There is no problem in implementing nine proposals as there was a consensus earlier. Since the other three points are very sensitive and connected to ancestral rights
and practices of servitors and their earning from donations, the managing committee constituted a sub-committee headed by the Gajapati Maharaja for more consultations, informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administrator (SJTA) Chief Administrator Pradipta Mohapatra.
The committees’ reports would be submitted in the Supreme Court for final hearing, added Mohapatra.
Besides, it was decided in the meeting that the SJTA would take stringent action against servitors and officials of temple for violation of norms and dereliction of duties during this year’s Rath Yatra.
The managing committee decided to serve show-cause notices to those caught guilty in the CCTV footages during the period of Debasnana Purnami and Niladri Bije of the lords. 24 servitors including officials have been detected from CCTV footages of breaking the rules, informed the SJTA Chief Administrator.