SJTA finds it tough to execute SC proposals

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Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) is yet to implement the 12 reform prposals suggested by the Supreme Court in letter and spirit even six months after the order.
A section of social activists and observers think that some influential groups at Srimandir are trying to prevent the SJTA from implementing the reforms suggested by SC.
A two-member SC bench had directed the SJTA to impose a ban on the collection of donations from devotees by servitors on Srimandir premises while hearing a case filed by Advocate Mrunalini Padhi
June 8, 2018.
The court had also directed the Puri District Judge to recommend reforms at the shrine. The SC had suggested 12 reforms at Srimandir after accepting the recommendations of the Puri District Judge July 5.
In its interim order, the SC had directed the SJTA to implement reforms like abolition of the hereditary rights of servitors, restrictions on any type of donation collection by servitors and amendment to the Srimandir Act.
Moreover, the apex court had directed the SJTA to introduce queue system for devotees, take control of the temple kitchen and consider a proposal for allowing people from other religions into the shrine.
The SC had appointed Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam as Amicus Curiae in the case and had directed him to consult all stakeholders at Srimandir for the smooth implementation of the reforms.
Subramaniam had visited the Holy City in September 2018, and had held discussions with Shankaracharya Nischalanand Saraswati, Gajapati King Dibyasingha Dev, the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, the SJTA, the servitors and other stakeholders.
Accepting the reforms, the SJTA had introduced the queue system for devotees October 1, 2018. It had asked devotees to enter the shrine through the Lions’ Gate and exit through the other three gates.
However, some servitors, devotees and locals opposed the queue system. The city witnessed large scale violence and vandalism during a dawn to dusk shutdown called by an organisation
October 3.
Moreover, the SJTA has been facing stiff resistance from servitors in abolishing the latter’s hereditary rights at Srimandir.
“The temple administration has failed to implement the reforms. It seems that the SJTA has buckled under pressure from influential groups. The issue has become more complex with Subramaniam’s withdrawal as Amicus Curiae,” said an
observer.