Eviction drive around Jagannath Temple: Puri seer terms panel's recommendations 'illegal'

The ongoing eviction drive around the Jagannath Temple in Puri ran into rough weather once again on Saturday, with Govardhan Peeth shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati declaring the recommendations of Justice B P Das commission "illegal".

Based on the recommendations of the commission, the Odisha government and the Puri district administration have launched an eviction drive a week ago in the area surrounding the temple and all structures within 75 metres of its boundary wall are being cleared.

"According to the special power vested on the shankaracharya, I declare the recommendation of the Das commission illegal," the seer told reporters at Govardhan Peeth in Puri.

The seer expressed displeasure that he was not consulted by the judicial panel before submitting its report on temple reforms to the state government, which had accepted the recommendations. He also did not approve the function of the Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae on the reforms in the 12th-century shrine.

"Which administration had prevented the judicial panel and the amicus curiae to consult the shankaracharya?" he asked. "There should be a committee to probe as to why they ignored the shankaracharya's view on the reforms."