Srimandir reforms: Odisha government constitutes experts committee

Puri: After getting a rap over harassment of devotees and other irregularities in management of Puri Srimandir from Supreme Court, Odisha government on Thursday constituted a three-member experts committee to recommend measures for streamlining functioning of the 12th century Jagannath temple here.

Additional chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Soumendra Priyadarshi, IG Police and Mohimohan Tripathy, a member of SJTA are the members of the experts panel.

The panel will study the existing norms and other welfare activities undertaken by temple boards by major shrines including Vaishno Devi and Tirupati in the country and submit a report to the State government.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Odisha government to constitute an ‘experts team’ to study the management practices adopted by several major temples in the country and submit a report.

The team will study the management practices adopted by major shrines in the country that can be replicated at Puri Srimandir and submit a report by June 30.

The apex court had come up with such directive while hearing a PIL filed by one Mrulanini Padhi basing on mainly three aspects- harassment of devotees, poor sanitation and mismanagement at Puri Srimandir.