Puri temple reform panel extends deadline to get affidavits

Due to the lukewarm response of public to the Judicial Commission for Puri Shree Jagannath Temple reforms, the panel today extended the deadline of receiving affidavits from public by a month.
The Commission, set up in July this year following the "Niladri Bije" fiasco, had fixed November 4 as the last date for receipt of affidavits.
"Since the public response has not been encouraging, it has been decided to extend the deadline to December 4," said Justice (Retd) B P Das, who is heading the one-man panel.
It was further learnt that the Commission has also sought certain documents pertaining to the rituals of the temple and documents related to encroachment of the temple's land from Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the Puri district collector.

Security of the temple, safety of the devotees, timely conduct of the temple rituals and welfare of the Lord's servitors (temple workers) are some of the many aspects in which the Commission has been requested by the state to suggest measures for reforms.