New Delhi: Former Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, who was appointed as Amicus Curiae by the Supreme Court in January to assist it in framing guidelines for managing the administrative affairs of Jagannath Temple in Puri, submitted a detailed report to the apex court on Tuesday.
The court has asked all the sides to present their views within four weeks. The court posted the matter for further hearing on April 2
A two-judge bench comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer and MR Shah on February 27 deferred the hearing in the case to March 5 due to unavailability of Justice AK Sikri.
During the previous hearing the Amicus Curiae told the apex court that he had visited the Jagannath Temple on February 23 in compliance with the court’s order and sought more time to file his response with respect to his visit.
The Amicus Curiae had visited the 12th century shrine on February 23 in compliance with the apex court order and met various stakeholders, including Temple Managing Committee Chairman and Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator PK Mohapatra, temple officials, and servitors there.
Kumar was appointed by the Supreme Court as Amicus Curiae in January to oversee the 12 reform proposals recommended by it at Jagannath Temple in Puri. Kumar’s appointment came after senior lawyer Gopal Subramaniam withdrew himself as the Amicus Curiae in November last year before submitting his report to the apex court.
