Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has planned to install a few landline phones at Srimandir for use by servitors and shrine employees.
The temple administration had earlier banned smartphones and camera phones at Srimandir. But it had permitted servitors and temple employees to use feature phones inside the shrine.
The temple administration had also asked servitors to collect feature phones from two recognised mobile phone service operators. The move did not succeed as many servitors opposed the feature phone plan.
Senior Daita servitor Ramkrushna Dasmahapatra had asked SJTA to ban mobile phones at Srimandir. Sources said SJTA chief administrator PK Jena has given his nod for the installation of landline phones at the temple.
“Our officials will chalk out a plan to install landline phones at Srimandir. We have decided to ban all kinds of mobile phones on the premises of the shrine,”
Jena said.
Jena said the temple administration has displayed signage and banners around the Srimandir to inform devotees about the ban on mobile phones at the shrine.
“We will impose fines and seize the mobile phones of devotees in case of violation of the ban. Officials and security personnel have been directed to enforce the ban on mobile phones strictly from January 3,” Jena added.
Earlier, several people had managed to take smartphones into the shrine and had taken photographs on Srimandir premises. They had also posted the photos in their social media accounts. The SJTA had drawn flak from several quarters over the issue.
PNN
