Puri Jagannath Temple servitors receiving offering despite SC order

Bhubaneswar: Even as the Supreme Court had directed for non-acceptance of offerings/donations by servitors at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, the sevayats are placing Thalis and pitchers for ‘collection of money illegally’, said District Judge, Puri in a report submitted to the apex court.

The  Supreme Court had on June 8 directed the temple administrator to “ensure that no direct collection of the offerings is made by any Sevaks and all the offerings either in hundi or are deposited and accounted for and properly utilized.”

The District Judge in the submitted report has suggested for ban on placing Thalis and pitchers by servitors to receive offering.

Notably, the Supreme Court, hearing a petition filed by one Mrinalini Padhi highlighting difficulties faced by devotees at the temple and their harassment or exploitation by the servitors, had on June 8 asked the District Judge to furnish a report on factual aspects of (a) Difficulties faced by the visitors, (b) Exploitative practices, if any, (c) Deficiencies in the management, if any, and (d) Suggestions, if any.