More than 4 months after it was shut due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a PIL was filed in the High Court of Orissa on Monday seeking reopening of the 12th century Jagannath Temple in Puri for devotees.
In his Public Interest Litigation, Trilochan Rath, a resident of Puri argued if malls & other commercial establishments can be allowed to open up, why should temples remain closed for devotees.
He said that “The temple can be opened while maintaining social distance & wearing masks".
Trilochan Rath prayed that along with Puri’s Jagannath Temple, all temples in Odisha should be opened for devotees to offer prayers. In another Public Interest Litigation, fifteen servitors of ‘Maa Mangala’ shrine at Kakatpur area of Puri too approached the High Court of Orissa seeking opening of the temple & demanded financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for the temple servitors.
In both the pleas, the petitioners have said that closure of the temples had created immense hardships to all servitors across the state.
The PIL stated that “The servitors usually depend on the devotees to eke out their living. They earn by providing services to the devotees. With no devotees being allowed to visit the temple, the servitors are left with no income".
Jagannath Temple, the most popular religious shrine in Odisha, has been shut for devotees since March 20 just before the lockdown began. The Rath Yatra festival in June was held without the presence of common devotees with temple servitors pulling the 3 wooden chariots after the Apex Court passed an order. Though the Centre allowed the opening of the temple, an ASI-protected monument in June, Odisha has preferred to keep it closed apprehensive of the rise in COVID-19 cases once devotees start thronging to it.
In its latest order issued on July 31, the Govt of Odisha allowed gyms & shopping malls to open with certain SOPs, but said religious places would continue to be shut.
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