The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Puri district court to file a factual report on mismanagement, alleged exploitation and harassment of devotees, unhygienic conditions at the temple by 30 June while asking the state government to immediately constitute an expert committee to study management schemes in other important shrines and suggest changes.

The court appointed eminent lawyer Gopal Subramanium as amicus curiae.

It, however, did not go into the recent controversy over the missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar ( treasure house) of Puri Jagannath Temple since the matter is pending with the high court.

A bench comprising Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Ashok Bhushan passed orders on a petition filed by Mrinalini Padhi.

Subhransu Padhi, lawyer for the petitioner, said the exploitation of devotees, harassment and whether the use of donations given by devotees in hundis at the temple were the major issues as there were alleged corrupt practices and commercialisation of rituals. Hassle-free darshan and cleanliness were also emphasised.

The court has asked the state government to constitute a committee which may study the management practices in other shrines like Vaishno Devi, Somnath Temple, Golden Temple, Tirupati Temple , Dharmasthala Temple and suggest reforms.

The Shri Jagannath Temple (Administration) Act 1952 was an attempt to check moral degeneration of attendants/Sevaks and to check mismanagement, noted the court.

“We also direct the Administrator to review the arrangement of CCTV camras already installed. Apart from the installation of more CCTV cameras at appropriate locations, footage thereof should be viewed by an independent committee at suitable intervals and the report thereof be given to the District Judge, Puri, once in every month,” said the court.

The Administrator may also ensure that no direct collection of the offerings is made by any sevaks and all the offerings either in hundi or otherwise are deposited and accounted for and properly utilised. They should not go to individual pockets and the Sevaks/attendants who may be given their due remuneration as per rules.

The matter was posted to 5 July.