The Centre on Tuesday submitted a status report in the Jagannath Temple maintenance case and told the apex court that commercial operations around the Temple will be shifted to nearby vicinity.

To which the bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, MR Shah and S Ravindra Bhat asked the Centre being represented by Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta that some have been accepted and some are under consideration.

Upon the submissions, the bench constituted a supervising committee headed by Justice GB Pattnaik and told the Centre to discuss with him their suggestions and prepare a scheme regarding the management of the Temple.

The counsel of petitioner informed the bench that “there are certain things that need to be done but are not being followed which have been submitted in the report”.

The petitioner’s counsel also stated that the remuneration of the sevaks working at the temple were very low and they can sustain their lives on such low wages.

The bench directed no stopping of the rituals at the Temple and told the supervising committee to share their opinion on management of the Temple with the Temple Committee.

The order will be pronounced on Oct 25.

On the previous hearing, the Court had expressed displeasure over the report submitted by amicus Ranjeet Kumar and told Kumar to submit the report again after being informed by the report that the premises which were encroached around the Jagannath Temple were now been freed from the encroachment and the people who were affected by encroachments have been compensated.

—India Legal Bureau