Srimandir reforms: Here’re the key recommendations of Supreme Court

Bhubaneswar: In a major development in the Srimandir reforms case, the Supreme Court today gave several directions and recommendations, including appointment of a full-time Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.

The other important recommendations are as follows:

Management of temple riches:

The temple management has been directed by the apex court to place before it the kind of inventory prepared, and ways to secure the valuables of the temple and ornaments offered by the devotees.

Lodging facilities for pilgrims:

On the basis of a report submitted before the court by B.D. Sharma, former Odisha Governor, the Supreme Court has directed the Odisha Government to prepare a plan for providing accommodation to 60,000 pilgrims.

On education of servitors’ children:

The court directed the Temple Managing Committee to allot suitable place for construction of school for children of servitors. “The school should also cater to other members of the public, and not exclusively for children of such servitors,” the court said.

Preparing RoR of temple properties:

It was stated by Amicus Curiae in his report that 60,418 acres of land belong to the temple and Record of Rights (RoR) have been prepared for 34200.976 acres so far. The court directed for preparation of RoR of the rest within 6 months. With respect to other immovable properties of the temple within and outside the state, the court asked to prepare inventory and submit details as to how they are being utilized and how much income is generated from them.

Income, management of quarries and mines:

The court directed to prepare a list of quarries and mines of the temple as to how they are being managed, who is operating them, what is the income of the temple from those and the outstanding dues.

Imparting training to servitors on rituals:

Temple Management Committee has been directed by the court to impart proper training to servitors and to ensure that only qualified servitors in traditional nitis and ritual, perform seva, puja and nitis.

Maintain hygiene of ‘prasad’ sold at Ananda Bazar:

The court has asked to maintain hygiene of prasad sold at the Ananda Bazar of the temple and keep those inside fly proof receptacles. It also ordered for selling of prasad at proper rates, to be fixed by the Temple Management.

Smooth darshan of Lords:

The court directed the Temple Administration and the Chief Administrator 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.

Special police inside temple:

The Temple Administration and Temple Police have been asked by the apex court to form a dedicated section of personnel inside the temple to avoid incidents of misbehaviour with women.

Solid waste management:

The State Government and Temple Administration have been directed to set up proper effluent treatment plant and waste management system for the temple.

Washroom facility for devotees:

The Supreme Court has ordered for separate toilets for men and woman with modern amenities and cleanliness.

Cloak room:

The Temple Administration has been directed for formation of a cloak room.

Issue ID cards to servitors:

“The servitors and staff should be provided with identity cards 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,” the court said.

Dedicated parking for two-wheelers:

Direction has been issued by court for formation of a two-wheeler parking lot for servitors and devotees within 4 months.

 

The next hearing on the case has been posted to January 8, 2020.