CUTTACK: Even as the outrage over the Brahma Parivartan bungling has begun to take a severe shape in the State, the Orissa High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Government over the irregularities in conduct of the holy ritual at Puri temple.
Acting on a PIL filed by State president of BJP Yuva Morcha Umakanta Pattnaik, a division bench of Chief Justice P Mohanty and Justice B Mohanty has directed the Chief Secretary, Law Secretary and Chief Administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to file their responses in the matter. Pattnaik has appealed to the court to direct a judicial inquiry by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court into the irregularities during the entire Nabakalebara ceremony including the delay in conduct of Brahma Parivartan (transfer of souls from the old to the new idols) caused by the wrangling among Daitapati servitors.
The recently concluded Nabakalebara ceremony has been marred by controversies starting from the selection of ‘Darus’ to the delay in Brahma Parivartan. The versions of different servitors pertaining to the cause of delay are very disturbing and the actual reasons are required to be ascertained.
But taking the past experiences of Government enquiries along with conduct of SJTA in the matter, only a judicial inquiry can unravel the truth and bring the guilty persons to book. The recommendations of the Commission would also be helpful in smooth conduct of future rituals and events, the petitioner submitted. Meanwhile, the SJTA has filed a reply in the court on the issue of closing the Nabajoubana Darshan of Lord Jagannath for pilgrims this year.
The court had earlier sought a response on the basis of a petition filed by Abhisek Das. The Nabajouban Darshan is held on the eve of Ratha Yatra allowing pilgrims and devotees to have darshan of the deities inside the temple.
The temple administration stated that the decision was taken in view of huge congregation of pilgrims for the Rath Yatra festival. With around 50 lakh visitors expected, it would not only be impossible to allow darshan for such massive crowd but also hinder conduct of rituals. The hearing of the case is posted to next week.