The opposition BJP today questioned the decision of the Shree Jagannath temple Administration (SJTA) in depositing gold ornaments received by the temple as gifts in a bank locker.
On Friday (June 8) the SJTA had deposited a part of gold ornaments received by the temple as gifts in a locker of a bank, temple Public Relations Officer (PRO) Laxmi Puja Panda said today.
BJP state Spokesman, Pitambar Acharya alleged that the decision of the SJTA in depositing the gold ornaments in a bank locker was "in violation" of the Shree Jagannath Temple Rules of 1960.
Acharya claimed that the SJTA Rules mentions that all jewelleries received as gifts or donations shall be kept separately inside the Ratna Bhandar (Lords Treasury) under the supervision of the temple administrator.
"The decision to keep a part of the gifted ornaments in a bank locker and not in the Ratna Bhandar within hours of an interim order passed by the Supreme Court, pointed finger towards the trustworthiness of the Temple administrator and the state government," he alleged.
On June 8, taking serious note of alleged exploitation of devotees by 'sevaks' at the Puri Jagannath temple in Odisha, the Supreme Court had passed a slew of directions to prevent any such malpractices and mismanagement.
A vacation bench of justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Ashok Bhushan had passed several directions.
Acharya said "It is also equally surprising that the chief minister has not yet uttered a single word in public even as the temple administration was aware that the Ratna Bhandar key is not traceable for over two months."
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