The Orissa High Court today took note of a PIL seeking judicial intervention to monitor the repair work of Sri Jagannath Temple which was in the news for the dilapidated condition of its prayer hall 'Jagamohan'.
A division bench of the vacation court comprising Justices B K Nayak and D P Choudhry asked the counsel of the opposite parties in the PIL to take instructions from the appropriate authorities.
Arraigning the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the state government departments, a social activist Abhisek Das had approached the HC thorugh the PIL seeking its direction for formation of a committee to monitor the repair works of Jagamohan.
Cutting across party lines, political leaders of the state have expressed concern over the condition of the Jagamohan and on the protracted delay in its repair.
(Reopens LGD 36)
The counsel for the priest said since the married daughters belong to different families and gotra they have no rights to perform 'puja sewa', which started yesterday and will end on March 7.
He said the trial court's February 4 order should be stayed and his sisters be restrained from performing the puja.
The counsel for the petitioner said from time immemorial only male descendants of the family were entitled to the proceeds of offerings since they perform puja and other rituals in the temple.
He sought to restrain his sisters from claiming share of the collection of the offerings through 'Sewa Bari' (turn).
The petitioner further stated that in the history of the Kalkaji temple, no woman has ever performed puja.
The two sisters through their counsel Satish Sahai told the court that they have a right to perform puja and 'sewa' being the legal heirs of their father.
