The Supreme Court today appointed Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar as the Amicus Curiae in the case concerning administration of the Jagannath Puri Temple..In the previous hearing before a Bench headed by Justice Madan Lokur, Senior Counsel Gopal Subramaniam had withdrawn as the Amicus in the case. Today the case was listed before a Bench of Justices AK Sikri, S Abdul Nazeer, and MR Shah..When the matter was taken up today, the petitioners sought an adjournment on account of unavailability of the AOR. The Court was favourable towards the request..The Court was also informed by the Advocate for the State of Odisha that Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam had recused himself from Amicus duties on account of “unfounded and wild allegations” made against him by one of the applicants, Advocate Debashis Misra..Misra has filed intervening applications in the matter one of which was dismissed by the Court earlier. Subsequently, he had filed more applications in the matter along with several other applicants..Upon being informed about Misra’s allegations, the Bench sought to read the contentious application. Misra continued to make his submissions despite Court agreeing to the adjournment..Justice Sikri warned Misra against making his submissions out of turn and assured all the applicants that all the IAs will be listed along with the matter..The Court then appointed Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar as Amicus Curiae..In June last year, the Supreme Court issued a slew of directions in the petition which highlights the issues faced by visitors of the Jagannath Temple at Puri, Odisha. The Court had also appointed Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam as Amicus Curiae in the matter..The petition filed by Mrinalini Padhi, a lawyer practicing in Orissa High Court, points out the difficulties faced by the visitors of the Jagannath Temple and their harassment and exploitation by the Sevaks (attendants) of the temple. The lack of hygiene plaguing the temple surroundings was another issue brought to the Court’s notice..A Bench of Justices AK Goel and Ashok Bhushan had subsequently issued notice in the matter. On a later date of hearing, the Court had passed an order asking the management of the Jagannath Temple to consider allowing entry of people belonging to all faiths to pay their respects to the deity..The Court will hear the matter next on February 5.
The Supreme Court today appointed Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar as the Amicus Curiae in the case concerning administration of the Jagannath Puri Temple..In the previous hearing before a Bench headed by Justice Madan Lokur, Senior Counsel Gopal Subramaniam had withdrawn as the Amicus in the case. Today the case was listed before a Bench of Justices AK Sikri, S Abdul Nazeer, and MR Shah..When the matter was taken up today, the petitioners sought an adjournment on account of unavailability of the AOR. The Court was favourable towards the request..The Court was also informed by the Advocate for the State of Odisha that Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam had recused himself from Amicus duties on account of “unfounded and wild allegations” made against him by one of the applicants, Advocate Debashis Misra..Misra has filed intervening applications in the matter one of which was dismissed by the Court earlier. Subsequently, he had filed more applications in the matter along with several other applicants..Upon being informed about Misra’s allegations, the Bench sought to read the contentious application. Misra continued to make his submissions despite Court agreeing to the adjournment..Justice Sikri warned Misra against making his submissions out of turn and assured all the applicants that all the IAs will be listed along with the matter..The Court then appointed Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar as Amicus Curiae..In June last year, the Supreme Court issued a slew of directions in the petition which highlights the issues faced by visitors of the Jagannath Temple at Puri, Odisha. The Court had also appointed Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam as Amicus Curiae in the matter..The petition filed by Mrinalini Padhi, a lawyer practicing in Orissa High Court, points out the difficulties faced by the visitors of the Jagannath Temple and their harassment and exploitation by the Sevaks (attendants) of the temple. The lack of hygiene plaguing the temple surroundings was another issue brought to the Court’s notice..A Bench of Justices AK Goel and Ashok Bhushan had subsequently issued notice in the matter. On a later date of hearing, the Court had passed an order asking the management of the Jagannath Temple to consider allowing entry of people belonging to all faiths to pay their respects to the deity..The Court will hear the matter next on February 5.
