Shree Jagannath Temple Administration suspends senior servitor Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, denies him entry to shrine for 30 days

THE Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Sunday suspended senior servitor Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra for 30 days and barred him from entering the 12th-century Puri temple after he attended the consecration ceremony of Digha Jagannath Temple in West Bengal and was accused of indiscipline.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

An official statement by SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee said Dasmahapatra had been suspended from all temple duties and prohibited from performing rituals at the Puri Jagannath Temple for a month.

Dasmohapatra, who also serves as the secretary of the Daitapati Nijog a group of servitors who act as the ceremonial bodyguards of the deities during the annual Rath Yatra has been instructed not to influence or threaten any servitor or individual in an attempt to obstruct temple services or rituals during the suspension period.

"If he does so, the suspension period will be extended and stricter disciplinary action will be taken. During this period, the commander and senior supervisor of the temple will regularly report to Padhee on Dasmahapatra's conduct," the statement added.

The order also stated that if Dasmohapatra's "disorderly" behaviour is observed during the suspension period and thereafter, the temple administration will cancel or suspend the allowances/pay/awards he is entitled. Prior to the disciplinary action, the SJTA had issued two show-cause notices to Dasmahapatra.