Odisha to set up judicial commission to reform temple

With growing discontentment among the people of Odisha over breaking of age-old traditions in Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri, the state government today announced that a judicial commission will be set up to bring reforms in the management of the 12th century shrine.
"Retired Orissa High Court judge Justice Bimal Prasad Das will head the one-man commission. The judicial commission is being set up as per the provision of the Sri Jagannath Temple Act, 1952," state law minister Arun Kumar Sahoo told reporters here.
Stating that former administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Mohinimohan Tripathy would assist the commission to deal with six subjects, Sahoo said the entire exercise was to keep an eye on streamlining the system.

"Though there has been stipulated norms for the management of the temple, irregularities are being noticed," the minister said.
The subjects on which the judicial commission would deal would include security arrangement of the temple, proper management of the Lord's rituals, devotees' amenities, training and amenities for the family members of servitors, propaganda of Jagannath cult and whatever the commission deems to be required for the best management of the Temple, the minister added.