Jagannath temple case: SC appoints senior advocate Ranjit Kumar as amicus

The Supreme Court Wednesday appointed senior advocate and former solicitor general Ranjit Kumar as amicus curiae to assist it in a matter related to administration of Jagannath temple in Puri.

The apex court had on November 30 last year accepted the request of senior advocate Gopal Subramanium to relieve him as amicus curiae in the matter.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the issue of appointing a new amicus in the case arose before a bench headed by Justice A K Sikri.

The bench requested Kumar, who was present in the court, whether he would assist it as an amicus in the case.

Kumar agreed.

The bench has posted the matter for hearing on February 5.

An advocate, who has filed an application in the court seeking intervention in the case, told the bench that person having knowledge about Jagannath temple should be appointed as an amicus.

The counsel appearing for Odisha told the apex court that "wild allegations" were levelled against Subramanium in an application filed by an advocate following which he had sought to be relieved from the role. "Unfounded allegations were levelled against Gopal Subramanium in the application."