Why in news?
The Supreme Court recently gave directions on the administration of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
What is the case about?
- A petition was filed on harassment and exploitation faced by visitors in the temple.
- This was said to be due to the commercialisation of rituals.
- Concerns were also raised on issues of hygiene, encroachments and management of the temple.
What are the court's directions?
- The SC gave some specific directions to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
- SJTA is to ensure that no direct collection of the offerings is made by any Sevaks.
- All the offerings should be through either hundi or deposited and accounted for and properly utilized.
- They should not be individual pockets by the Sevaks/attendants.
- As, these would be given their due remuneration as per rules.
- To ensure this, the SJTA has to review the arrangement of CCTV cameras and install more.
- An independent panel must view the footage at suitable intervals and submit a report to the District Judge.
- The court has directed the Puri District Judge to file a report on exploitative practices.
What are the concerns?
- The Servitors of the Temple are largely dependent on the temple for their livelihood.
- Given this, the SC’s directive may force them into penury/poverty.
- The order does not distinguish between dakshina and daan.
- The former is a fee paid voluntarily by devotees to servitors for performing their desired rituals.
- On the other hand, daan is the donation to the temple.
- Many devotees are under the impression that the SC has banned dakshina.
What is SJTA's stance?
- There is said to be coercive collection of large amounts in the form of dakshina.
- The Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1954, provides for the welfare of servitors.
- Under this, the Shri Jagannath Temple Foundation Fund receives all donations exceeding Rs 500.
- The collections are invested in long-term fixed deposits in banks and the interest returns to the Fund.
- A portion of it is used to run a sebayat (servitors’) hospital, give scholarships to their children, and for old age and widow pensions.
- Given this support system, servitors should not expect any part of the temple’s offerings.
Source: Indian Express
Quick Fact
Puri Jagannath Temple
- The Shree Jagannath Temple is located in Puri, Odisha.
- It is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of lord Vishnu.
- It is well known for its annual Ratha Jatra, or chariot festival.
- The temple is one of the four great 'Char Dham' pilgrimage sites.
- Char Dhams are the pilgrimage sites found at India's four cardinal points.
- The other three are Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Dwarka (Gujarat), and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu).
