Puri: Gobardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand Saraswati has convened a high-level meeting February 17 to find solution to various issues of Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath.
According to sources, Gajapati king Dibyasingha Dev, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Orissa High Court Chief Justice KS Jhaveri, Law Minister Pratap Jena, state Chief Secretary, Law Department secretary, state endowment commissioner, members of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief, Puri collector and district superintendent of police, Puri district judge, representatives of various servitors’ Niyog and office bearers of Orissa High Court Bar Association and Puri district Bar Association have been invited to the meeting.
Moreover, some intellectuals and scholars have also been invited to the meeting.
“Indiscipline and mismanagement at Srimandir are harming the religious sentiments of the people. The Shankaracharya feels that good understanding and cooperation among the state government, SJTA and Srimandir servitors can solve the issues plaguing the 12th century shrine,” said Gobardhan Peeth spokesperson Manoj Rath at a press conference here Tuesday.
It is learnt that the meeting would deliberate on Ghata Paribartan fiasco of 2015, issues related to Srimandir Ratnabhandar (treasury), ban on devotees’ entry to the sanctum sanctorum (Garvagruha), reform measures for the shrine suggested by the Supreme Court and introduction of queue system for devotees at the temple.
Moreover, issues related to alleged misbehaviour with devotees by servitors and delay in the performance of rituals at Srimandir would also come up for deliberation at the meeting.
“The state government has formed several judicial commissions at different times to look into various issues of Srimandir. Moreover, cases related to the shrine have been filed in the Supreme Court and Orissa High Court. But, many issues are yet to be solved. The Shankaracharya has convened the meeting to find solution to these issues,” Rath said.
According to Rath, the Chief Minister and the Orissa High Court Chief Justice have been urged to send their representatives to the meeting if they are unable to be present for the meeting February 17.
