Puri: The Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium has favoured continuation of hereditary service rights of servitors in Jagannath Temple here with reduced numbers, a senior official said.
The proposal to cut the number of servitors and continue with the hereditary practice was mooted at a meeting between temple officials and the amicus curiae Saturday, Chief Administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Pradipta Mohapatra said Saturday.
While Subramaniam is in favour of continuation of hereditary rights of servitors in the shrine, he is convinced that the number of servitors has increased considerably and it needs to be limited as per requirement, Mohapatra said.
Those servitors whose service is not sought would be provided with a generous compensation package to ensure their livelihood is protected, he said adding, the amicus curiae will give his recommendation in his report to the apex court.
Those who are kept outside the list of servitors can also continue with “Jatri Seva” (guide) outside the temple as their livelihood cannot be completely snatched, Mohapatra said.
Identity cards would be given to the listed sevaks and those engaged in Jatri Seva would get different cards.
The amicus curiae was also of the firm opinion that all the buildings inside the temple complex belong to the administration and cannot be owned by sevaks, Mohapatra said.
Regarding collection of money for “annadan atika”, the amicus curiae held that there should be four hundis (donation boxes) at four major points of the temple premises and the practice of collection of money in “thali” and pitcher inside the temple should be stopped, the SJTA chief said.
Subramanium, who held discussions about reform measures in the 12th century shrine with different stakeholders Friday and Saturday, said he had a good meeting with the temple managing committee under the chairmanship of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb.
“I am happy to let you all know that we are making substantial progress,” Subramanium said.
The amicus curiae also had a meeting with the “Chhatisha Nijog” (servitors’ body) and stressed the need for them to be polite in their behaviour with the devotees.
The amicus curiae had also held a closed-door meeting Friday with the Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati for around one-and-a-half hours regarding disciplinary reforms in the shrine.
The Supreme Court, in its interim order in June, had directed the temple administration and the state government to implement its 12 reform proposals.
The Supreme Court, after hearing a petition on June 8 and July 5, had directed the temple administration to implement 12 proposals as a part of disciplinary reforms in the 12th century shrine.
Issues regarding the abolition of hereditary appointment of servitors, end to collection of ‘dakshina’ by servitors are believed to have figured during the talks, sources said.
After obtaining views from the stakeholders, the amicus curiae will submit a report to the apex court.
The Supreme Court had taken serious note of the alleged exploitation of devotees by ‘sevaks’ at Jagannath temple and passed a slew of directions to prevent such malpractices and mismanagement.
The petition had highlighted the difficulties faced by the devotees in the temple and their harassment by the servitors.
PTI