A servitor of the Puri Jagannath Temple was suspended and prohibited from entering the temple premises until further orders on Thursday following allegations of involvement in immoral activities. The decision came after his recent arrest in a cybercrime case.
Details of the Suspension
The accused, identified as Daitapati servitor Shraddhananda Das Mahapatra, faced disciplinary action under the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955. The temple's chief administrator ordered his immediate suspension, stating that the alleged misconduct had adversely affected the dignity and reputation of both the temple and the servitor community.
Administrator's Statement
Arabinda Padhee, the chief administrator, remarked that while most servitors adhere to discipline and traditional codes of conduct during rituals, isolated incidents of misconduct by a few individuals bring disrepute to the entire servitor community. He emphasized that any form of indiscipline or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated by the temple administration.
The suspension will remain in effect until further orders, pending further investigation into the allegations.
