Puri: Senior Supreme Court (SC) advocate Priya Hingorani, who has been appointed by the apex court to assist amicus curiae Ranjit Kumar on a case pertaining to Srimandir reforms, visited the 12th century shrine here, Friday.
Hingorani’s visit to Srimandir assumes significance as the next hearing on the case is scheduled for October 22.
Hingorani reached the Lions’ Gate of Srimandir in the morning and was greeted by some officials of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration. The SC advocate paid obeisance to the presiding and subsidiary deities of Srimandir, sources said.
After returning from Srimandir, Hingorani visited the open space made available after demolition of some mutts and other structures near the shrine by the district administration.
Hingorani was seen capturing the new look of Srimandir peripheral with her cell phone. Besides, she was seen holding discussions with Puri Sub-Collector Bhabatarana Sahu and some police officers.
A few evicted shopkeepers met Hingorani near Srimandir and apprised her about the district administration’s failure to rehabilitate them. The shopkeepers reportedly told Hingorani that they had procured huge consignments in view of Dussehra festival. But, the eviction drive threw spanner on their plans.
It is learnt that Hingorani advised the shopkeepers to convey their grievances to the Supreme Court.
In another development, the district administration Friday deposited Rs 46.75 lakh in the bank accounts of the evicted shopkeepers. “The shopkeepers will use the money to hire private buildings to run their business and meet the transport expenses,” said an official of the district administration.
