Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 22:

Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra today questioned the Odisha government’s rationale behind the constitution of a one-man judicial commission to suggest reforms in the management of Sri Jagannath temple at Puri.

Bijoy Mohapatra

“A piece of legislation named as ‘Jagannath Temple Act’ was enacted in 1952 for managing the affairs of Sri Mandir. Everything from how rituals will be conducted in the temple, the role of servitors, role of administration everything has been mentioned in it in black and white. The government has failed in executing the Act. The commission can do nothing more. Why is the government not acting as per the provisions of the existing law?” asked Mohapatra talking to reporters here today.

The Chief Administrator of the temple administration, other officers and the Law Minister were present at the time of disturbance during Niladri Bije rituals of Lord Jagannath, in order to protect them and delay action the government has constituted another commission.

“During the mishap on Niladri Bije day, Chief Administrator of Sri Mandir Suresh Mohapatra was enjoying it while sitting in a room with a glass window. Was it Niladri Bije ritual of Lord Jagannath that Suresh Mohapatra, Law Minister Arun Sahu and other officers were watching or were they watching a cricket match? They were certainly not there to watch a cricket match. It was their responsibility to see to it that the Lord’s rituals were conducted smoothly. Even though there was disturbance over the climbing of a woman atop a chariot they didn’t go to the spot for which the Collector was attacked. Therefore, what’s the need for a commission today? The government is trying to find an escape route to wriggle itself out of the situation. Earlier too the government had constituted Justice Patra Commission. Have they implemented the commission's report?” questioned Mohapatra.

Notably, the state government after receiving much flak over the Niladri Bije fiasco on Thursday constituted a one-member judicial commission to be headed by former High Court Justice Bimal Prasad Das to bring reforms in the management of Sri Mandir.