Rath yatra at Puri's Jagannath temple (2013) | Photo Credit: BCCL

New Delhi: The honourable Supreme Court of India in a landmark move, asked the Jagganath Puri temple to grant entry to all those who come to the temple seeking blessings irrespective of their religion or faith. Offerings made by devotees to the deity, however, can be subjected to regulatory checks, said the order passed by a bench of Justices Abdul Nazeer and AK Goel while hearing a petition filed by one Mrinalini Padhi. The order is expected to be imposed on other temples in due course of time, claims a media report.

It is being reported that the order was issued after taking into consideration a report by the Puri District Judge, said Deccan Chronicle. In his report, the district court judge has asserted that the temple management is exhibiting 'thalis' and pitchers for the collection of money despite previous orders calling the practice illegal. The bench of Justices Goel and Nazeer also noted that a large number of those who visit the temple are denied entry into the main sanctum due to their nationality or religious beliefs. “Secularism merely means that no religion has the monopoly of religious wisdom,” said the bench while quoting from a book written by the former Chief Justice of India, PB Gajendragadkar.

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Complaints by visitors facing difficulties such as mismanagement of hygiene within temple premises and lapses in the role undertaken by temple authorities among others must be addressed, said the court. It has been pointed out time and again that exploitative practices have been practised in shrines across the country regardless of religion. “It is a matter for consideration not only for the State Government, Central Government but also for courts,” observed the bench.

Devoted to Lord Jagannath, the temple draws thousands of visitors from across the globe every single day. In its order, the bench said that the temple management has the right to implement regulatory measures on the basis of compliance with dress code. Even the Additional Solicitor General has told the top court that the Union Ministry of Culture is taking due interest in the matter since it involves the preservation of cultural heritage. Meanwhile, the central government has been tasked with setting up a committee to consider the order and submit a report to the Supreme Court by August 31 of this year. While setting September 5 as the date of the next hearing over this matter, the bench has ordered the temple management to restrict illegal collection of money from those visiting the temple.

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