CUTTACK: The Orissa
high court
has ruled that a plea to make the Jagannath
Temple
in
Puri
disabled-friendly involves "urgency" warranting a decision within a month.
The court issued the ruling while disposing of the petition seeking direction to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration to make the 12th century shrine accessible to differently-abled persons.
Since such a facility is not available at the temple complex at present, the petition sought the court's direction to the authorities concerned by invoking the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1916.
It was filed by
Jitendra Kumar Biswal (50), a resident of Bargarh district who claimed to be fully disabled and a social activist mainly working for people like himself, on January 21.
Senior Advocate G K Acharya argued on behalf of the petitioner, who had approached the HC instead of the competent authority at first. The single-judge bench of Justice
Biswanath Rath
felt it is "a genuine case".
"In view of the urgency involved in this matter and as a decision in this regard is required to be taken by the administrative authority at the first hand, this court directs the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee and the chief administrator of the Puri temple to collectively take a lawful decision in the matter by treating the petition as a representation at the insistence of the petitioner," Justice Rath said in the February 28 order. "The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of one month," the order specified.
The petition expected authorities to make designated space within the inner sanctum of the Jagannath Temple for wheelchair-bound devotees to offer their prayers and to have a clear view of the three deities.
The petition further expected the authorities to make such other provisions, which may be required, within the temple complex for free movement of wheelchair-bound devotees.
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