Ending indiscipline to guide Commission: Justice BP Das

Cuttack: Former Orissa High Court judge and chairperson of the one-man commission formed by the State government to suggest reforms in the management of Puri Sri Mandir Justice BP Das today said ending indiscipline would be the guiding principle of the exercise he would undertake.

Talking exclusively to OTV, Justice Das said, “I won’t tolerate indiscipline. From this, you can understand what would be my way of functioning.”

Asked if he is confident that the government will accept his recommendations, Justice Das said, “Obviously, the government will accept them if the recommendations suggest a way to ensure that the rituals are performed in a disciplined manner.”

“I will not disappoint people, who have faith in the terms of reference given to me,” he said.

When his attention was drawn to the suggestion made by former minister Surya Narayan Patro for formation of a Tirupati-like Trust Board to run the affairs of the Srmandir, Justice Das said the model to be suggested by the Commission does not necessarily have to follow any other model.

"It could be an altogether new model. But what it would be can be decided only after every aspect, including the Record of Rights, is studied thoroughly," the head of the one-man commission said.

Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra has alleged that the setting up of the Justice Das commission is only an exercise to protect the bigwigs who stood as mute witness when servitors went on a rampage during the Niladri Bije last Sunday, abusing the collector and manhandling media persons.

"Earlier, the government had set up the Justice RK Patra commission. No one knows what happened to its recommendations," Mohapatra said.

Yesterday, Law Minister Arun Sahoo had announced the decision of the State government to set up the Commission following the Niladri Bije fiasco, which would give suggestions on disciplined rituals, security arrangements, disciplined darshan for devotees, training and education to servitors, conservation of heritage and propagation of Jagannath culture.