PURI: To monitor the behaviour of servitors of Jagannath temple towards devotees, 23 close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) would be installed in small temples on the temple complex. This was resolved at Shri Jagannath temple managing body meeting held on Saturday.
Following a meeting of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Chief Administrator P K Mohapatra said CCTV cameras are also being installed in Gundicha temple, where devotees throng in large numbers to have a glimpse of the Trinity during Their nine-day sojourn. Earlier, 78 CCTV cameras were installed in the Jagannath temple and its surroundings.
Mohapatra informed mediapersons that the Supreme Court order to stop collection of all kinds of donation by servitors of the Jagannath temple would be implemented in letter and spirit and the managing body has agreed to it.
The Supreme Court had directed the State and local administration to stop collection of donation by the servitors and all donations should be credited to the temple account. The Chief Administrator informed that in adherence to the Supreme Court judgment, all the nijogs (associations of temple servitors) operating in the temple complex were issued notices asking them to stop collection of donations.
To inform devotees of the decision, signboards have been displayed at all four entry gates of the temple urging them to donate only in temple Hundi or in temple office.
Regarding the missing Ratna Bhandar key controversy, the Chief Administrator said since Judicial Commission is inquiring into the issue, the managing committee would take a decision after the panel files its report.
The Supreme Court-appointed district judge to inquire into the temple affairs has been provided all the information he sought, Mohapatra said, adding that the legal officer of the temple has been made nodal officer to collect all information as sought by the district judge. The managing body has resolved that the temple administration would file affidavit in the apex court in the case.
Regarding returning of property title to Gobardhan mutt of Sankaracharya, the temple managing committee has decided to constitute a panel headed by Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, SJTA Chief, Collector and Puri SP as members to hold discussions with Sankaracharya on allegations of inadvertent transfer of Gobardhan Peeth land to Puri Srimandir records. After State Government endorses the proposal, the land title would be recorded in favour of Gobardhan mutt, Mohapatra added.
About 32 acres of landed property in Swargdwar area was identified as temple land and recorded in favour of Sri Jagannath Temple managing body. The area includes Gobardhan mutt complex. The seer was peeved over this and has been pleading for restoration of title.
The meeting was presided over by the Gajapati and attended by Commissioner of Endowments, Law Secretary, District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police besides the servitor members.
Moreover, the temple body approved arrangements for Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra, Bahuda Yatra and Niladri Bije. Timely observance of nitees and rituals of the deities which were tentatively chalked out in Chhatisha nijog meeting would be strictly adhered to.
The timing and schedules of all nitees and rituals for Deba Snana Purnima on June 28, Rath Yatra on July 14, Bahuda on July 22, Suna Besha on July 23 and Niladri Bije (homecoming of the deities) has been approved at the meeting.
Bimalamba temple hundi looted
Miscreants broke open the door of Bimalamba temple located in Gobaradhan mutt complex on Friday night and decamped with the donation box (hundi). Manoj Kumar Rath, a functionary of the Gobardhan mutt, filed a complaint with Sea Beach police on Saturday morning. During inquiry, police found the broken empty hundi box on the backyard of the mutt. Rath could not say how much money was in the hundi. Police are investigating into the incident and using sniffer dogs. Sankaracharya Swami Neeschalananda
Saraswati is away.