Use of smart phones by servitors, some devotees and police personnel has emerged a major security breach at Srimandir
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has failed to ensure restrictions on use of mobile phones on Srimandir premises even though it introduced several reform measures at the 12th century shrine at the behest of the Supreme Court (SC).
Use of mobile phones especially smart phones by servitors, some devotees and police personnel has become a major security breach at Srimandir, sources said.
Amid threat from extremists for last several years, the intelligence agencies have warned the authorities concerned to tighten security at the shrine. National Security Guard (NSG) officials have been inspecting security arrangements at the temple for the last few years.
The SJTA had banned the use of mobile phones on Srimandir precincts last year. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Chhatisha Niyog, the apex body of servitors, September 20, 2017.
However, the SJTA has allowed servitors and SJTA employees to carry feature phones into the shrine. It had tied up with some mobile companies to supply feature phones to servitors.
Subsequently, the private companies had opened two counters at the SJTA office to sell feature phones to servitors. However, the counters were closed later.
Now, many servitors and SJTA employees are carrying smart phones into Srimandir. Though the SJTA has put up signboards near Srimandir to discourage devotees from carrying phones into the temple, many people are seen flouting the norm. Police officials and Jagannath Temple Police Service (JTPS) personnel often catch a few devotees with mobile phones following which the SJTA imposes Rs 1,000 penalty on them.
However, the temple administration has not taken any step to prevent servitors, its own employees and security personnel from carrying smart phones into shrine. Very recently, an assistant sub-inspector of Beach police station had entered the temple with a smart phone and took photos inside the shrine before uploading them on his Facebook account.
Notably, the SC had given 12 recommendations for the Srimandir and appointed G Subramaniam as the amicus curiae to consult various stakeholders regarding the shrine reforms.
“The mobile phone issue has been put on the backburner. Neither the judiciary nor the temple authorities take the issue seriously. Some servitors, police personnel and devotees are carrying smart phones into the shrine in violation of the SJTA guidelines,” said an observer.