Puri Srimandir reforms: Supreme Court defers hearing by seven more days

The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the hearing of the Puri Srimandir reforms case by seven more days.

The next hearing has been scheduled for May 8, 2023 (Monday).

As per reports, the Amicus Curiae sought seven days from the court to study the affidavit that the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) furnished on Monday (May 1).

Notably, while hearing a petition filed by Mrinalini Padhi, a lawyer from Cuttack, the SC, on November 4, 2019, had directed the SJTA to appoint a permanent administrator of the temple managing committee while passing an interim judgment on Srimandir reforms.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra had issued at least 25 directives including the establishment of an accommodation facility for 60,000 pilgrims, a waste treatment plant in Puri, and the establishment of schools and colleges in collaboration with the SJTA to promote Jagannath culture.

Puri Sub-Collector, Bhabataran Sahu had earlier said, while land has been identified for the establishment of Aadarsh Gurukul for the servitors, the construction of Dharmasala has begun on a 10-acre land near Baseli Sahi Police Station.

On the other hand, the Odisha government appointed Ranjan Kumar Das as the Chief Administrator of SJTA. He replaced Vir Vikram Yadav.

With the appointment of Das, the post of Chief Administrator, SJTA has also been declared equivalent in status and responsibility to the post of Special Secretary provided in the IAS cadre in the State.