HC seeks report on dalit entry into Jagannath Temple

Kendrapada, Apr 19 (UNI) Orissa High Court today directed the Kendrapada District Magistrate to furnish a report in a sealed cover about the steps initiated for the entry of dalits inside the 300-year-old Jagannath temple at Keradagada.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice A K Ganguli and Justice N Prusty issued the direction after hearing a writ petition filed by one Akhaya Mallick of Kendrapara.

Earlier, a division bench of High court comprising the then Chief Justice S B Ray and Justice M M Das on December 5, 2006 had ordered that all Hindus, irrespective of caste, have rights to enter the temple under Article 17 of Constitution and Section 3 of Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.

The High court had also directed the District administration to ensure law and order situation during the entry of Dalits into the Jagannath temple at Keradagada.

Mr Mallick in his petition alleged that the authorities had violated the court and did not allow dalits to enter the temple and instead erected an iron grill on the outer wall of the temple from where the dalits were allowed to worship the deity.

He further said the priests of the temple had refused to give the dalits 'Prasad' inside the sanctum sanctorum. The dalits were also not provided with ''dhanda'' and ''paduka'' by the priests, who did not even take coconut directly from the hands of the dalits.

Many dalits in the area were socially ostracised by those belonging upper caste and the priests after their entry into the temple, the petitioner alleged.

When contacted, District Magistrate Kashinath Sahu said the authorities demolished the nine holes on the outer wall of the temple and constructed an iron grill.

The iron grill was constructed after both dalits and upper caste people of Keredagada agreed in a meeting in presence of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central) Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and Deputy Inspector General of Police Santosh Upadhhaya on December 17 last, he said.

UNI