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Government submits affidavit in HC on Puri temple security

CUTTACK: The State government on Monday told the Orissa High Court that the report of a judicial enquiry probing into the stampede at Puri Jagannath Temple during the ‘Nagarjuna Vesa' in 1998 was lost and could not be traced despite search.

In an affidavit, the State government informed the court that another judicial report ordered in 2006 to ascertain as to who were responsible for the loss of earlier report is in the meantime has been accepted by the government and steps are being taken to take follow-up actions on the basis of the recommendations made by it.

The government response came in the wake of a PIL filed in the court by a Cuttack-based socio-cultural organisation—‘Maitree Sansad' way back in 2003 in which it had questioned about the poor law and order and security measures at the 12 {+t} {+h} century shrine in view of the threat perceptions to the famous temple.

“The State government and as well as Temple administration were completely callous about the deteriorating situation at Jagannath temple”, the petition had alleged seeking court's intervention to upgrade the facilities. It may be noted here that following death of at least six persons in stampede at the temple in 1998, Justice J.M. Mohapatra was appointed to conduct an enquiry.

The judicial Commission had submitted its report to the government. “But shockingly the government in an affidavit said that the report could not be traced despite thorough search”, said the petitioner-advocate Ajoy Mohanty on Monday.

Moreover, the government on the day also informed that the subsequent judicial commission that was set up in November 2006 headed by Justice P.K. Mohanty to find out the person (s) responsible for the loss of earlier report was in the hand of the government. “But the affidavit is completely silent on the findings of the Justice Mohanty's report without mentioning about the suggestions made in the report”, Mohanty alleged saying that the petitioner would soon file another miscellaneous case soon after going through the affidavit.

The government affidavit simply mentions that steps had been taken to send the extract of Justice P.K. Mohanty report to the concerned authorities for follow-up actions.

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