HC asks Govt to file details on Jagannath temple security

BHUBANESWAR

Not satisfied by an half-hearted affidavit made by the State Government on the security measures taken at Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Odisha High Court on Thursday again issued a notice asking the Government to submit a ‘detail report’ on it.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice V Gopalgowda and Justice BN Mohaptra issued the notice when the matter came before it on the day.

It may be mentioned here that the Government last month had informed the court that adequate steps had been taken to maintain law and order and proper security measures are in place at the 12th century shrine in view of the threat perceptions on it.

The affidavit had also mentioned that a judicial enquiry report on the stampede at the temple during the Nagarjuna Vesa in 1998 was “lost” and subsequently another judicial enquiry was ordered in 2006 to find out as to who were responsible for the loss of the earlier report.

“The 2006 judicial enquiry report has already been accepted by the Government and steps are being taken for follow-up action on the basis of recommendations made by it”, the affidavit had stated.

The Government response had come in the wake of a PIL filed in the court by a Cuttack-based socio-cultural organization—‘Maitree Sansad’ way back in 2003 in which it had questioned about the poor law and order and security measures in the famous temple.

It may be also be noted here that following death of at least six persons in 1998 stampede, Justice JM Mohapatra was appointed to conduct an enquiry. The judicial Commission had submitted its report to the Government. But that report was lost. Subsequently another judicial Commission headed by Justice PK Mohanty was instituted to find out the person (s) responsible for the loss of earlier report which was in the possession of the Government.

But last month’s Government affidavit was completely silent on the findings of the Justice Mohanty’s report without mentioning about the suggestions made in it.


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