NHRC seeks ATR from Kendrapara DM and SP on Baladev Jew Temple Issues
The NHRC also transmitted a copy of the order to the Chief Secretary and the DGP of Odisha for information and necessary action.
Moved by the petition filed by Right Activist Radhakanta Tripathy ,the NHRC passed the order on May 5 and sought for the ATR within four weeks.
Tripathy alleged that the condition of the 400 years old Baldevjee Temple, Kendrapara District, Odisha has deteriorated due to negligence by the Temple Endowment Trust Board, local police, and district authorities, leading to unhygienic conditions, including filthy toilets, alcohol consumption, and anti-social activities within the temple premises.
Tripathy further alleged that despite several complaints and directives for renovation, the temple remains in a state of neglect, violating the religious sentiments and basic human rights of the devotees.
Though 40 CCTVs were installed in the temple to keep a vigil ,but due to sub standard quality of CCTV these are not functioning properly,
Meanwhile 12 out of 40 CCTVs are now operational whereas others are not working .Besides this ,out of 32 employees 30 employees have crossed 60 years old .
Their work is not remunerated as per the norms and parameters. The sub-collector-cum-the Working president of Baladevjew Temple Endowment Trust Board has not been taking the issue seriously.
Lord Baladevjew is the symbol of trust and belief of lakhs of devotees but the temple remains neglected .
The Baladevjew temple is the second largest endowment Trust Board next to Puri's Jagannath temple, but it is irony that the temple developmental work has been lacking behind, though the state government has undertaken renovation, modernisation and beautification works of several temples
The Kendrapara Zilla Vikash Parishad(KZVP) met the Temple Endowment Commission and demanded to take steps for shifting the wooden boxes and fuel woods from Jhulan mandap and snana mandap ,besides steps should be taken for renovation of chandan pokhari and to carry out the beautification works of the temple in a war footing basis.
On November 6 last ,Deputy Commissioner of Endowment ,Dillip Kumar Satapathy visited Baladevjew temple to take stock of the situation related to the allegations made by Kendrapara Zilla Vikash Parishad (KZVP)
The Jhulan Mandap has turned into the storage place of wooden boxes(sinduka) of the servitors and the Snana Mandap has become the storage place of fuel woods depot by creating an unhygienic atmosphere .
It has created a bad impression for the tourists and devotees towards the temple. The temple needs renovation on an urgent basis.
Several times the Temple endowment Commission of Odisha has directed to vacate the wooden boxes (Sinduka) from jhulan Mandap and fuel wood from snan mandap ,but due to the callous attitude of the Baladevjew Trust board, the direction is yet to be carried out in true letter and spirit
. Besides this the Temple Endowment Trust Board also fears that they might face the wrath of servitors if they try to vacate the wooden boxes and fuel woods from the temple premises.
Although a police bit house was opened about 100 metres distance from the temple, especially for the temple security but the strength of police personnel is very minimum to maintain law and order.
Due to apathetic attitude of the State Government and the District Administration of Kendrapara, the locals, devotees and the pilgrims suffer untold miseries.
The lack of basic amenities and filthy atmosphere , polluted environment and activities of anti-socials amounts to serious violation of human rights, Tripathy alleged.
He requested the Commission to investigate the case in detail by a team of officials and direct the State Home Department, Temple Endowment Commission of Odisha, District Collector and SP of Kendrapada to ensure potable drinking water and clean and hygienic toilets for the locals and devotees, pilgrims in the temple premises,to ensure healthy atmosphere and hygienic environment.
He has also requested the commission to ensure renovation and beautification of the temple at the earliest, to open a police bit house inside the temple by shifting the existing one to temple premises and to take steps for engaging half platoon of police personnel round the clock to ensure the safety and sanctity of 400- years old temple.
The Commission stated that if the above allegations are true, it would be tantamount to a serious violation of the human rights of the complainant.
The Bench of the National Human Rights Commission, presided by Priyank Kanungo, the Member of NHRC , has taken cognizance in terms of Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, in the matter.
The commission directed to send the complaint to the authority concerned and issue a notice to the DM and SP, Kendrapara District, with directions to get the allegations made in the complaint looked into and to submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks for perusal of the Commission.
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