“Nine servitors were suspended from Srimandir service on charge of facilitating a girl’s entry onto the chariot, obstructing the Pahandi procession of Lord Sudarshan and misbehaving with the district collector during Niladri Bije,” said an SJTA official.
Post News Network
Puri, July 19: Cracking whip on unruly servitors, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Tuesday suspended nine servitors from Srimandir service citing gross indiscipline during Niladri Bije ritual of the deities July 17.
The temple administration suspended Suar and Mahasuar Niyog president Damodar Mahasuar and others such as Jaykrushna Mahasuar, Bhimsen Palankdhari, Ipsit Pratihari, Rabi Das, Saina Khuntia, Kashinath Khuntia, Rabi Narayan Khuntia and Bhagirathi Khuntia as per section 21 (B), (A) and (C) of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.
“Nine servitors were suspended from Srimandir service on charge of facilitating a girl’s entry onto the chariot, obstructing the Pahandi procession of Lord Sudarshan and misbehaving with the district collector during Niladri Bije,” said an SJTA official.
The temple administration served show-cause notices on all suspended servitors and asked them to reply in connection with the fiasco within 15 days. “As per the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, the chief administrator can initiate disciplinary action against a servitor or a group of servitors without serving any prior notice on them. The temple administration will frame charge-sheets against the suspended servitors after receiving their replies,” the official added.
The action followed after examination of CCTV footages and going through a report submitted by additional superintendent of police Narahari Panda. SJTA chief administrator Suresh Mahapatra held discussions with senior officials of the temple administration before announcing suspension of the nine servitors.
SJTA administrator (rituals) lodged a complaint against Damodar Mahasuar accusing him of flouting Orissa High Court order by facilitating the entry of his daughter onto the chariot.