BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government is considering tougher legal provisions to curb repeated violations of rules within the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, following the circulation of a viral photograph allegedly taken from the highly restricted sanctum area of the shrine.
Reacting strongly to the incident, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on December 17 said the state government has taken a serious view of the recurring breaches of discipline inside the temple, despite clear prohibitions and repeated warnings issued by the temple administration. He said the existing legal framework may no longer be sufficient to deter such violations.
“The government is compelled to consider stricter punishment as some individuals continue to defy temple rules and violate the ban on carrying mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices inside the shrine,” the Minister said. He added that people involved in such acts are not genuine devotees, as their intention is not to seek darshan but to create drama and gain attention on social media platforms.
Harichandan noted that while the existing law already contains several penal provisions, the government is working to make necessary amendments to ensure more effective enforcement. He said steps are being taken to explicitly and completely ban photography devices, mobile phones, smart glasses, and cameras inside the temple, a provision not clearly defined in earlier legislation.
The controversy erupted after a photograph purportedly showing Bhagwan Jagannath along with Bhagwan Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra seated on the Ratna Singhasan went viral on social media. The image, reportedly taken from close range, triggered serious concerns over the security arrangements within the temple’s inner precincts.
Sources said the photograph appears to have been taken near the Ratna Singhasan, one of the most restricted areas of the shrine, raising questions about how a mobile phone or camera could have passed through multiple layers of security. The image was allegedly uploaded to Instagram by a user, though the photographer’s identity and the exact timing of the breach have not yet been confirmed.
Temple officials earlier stated that a detailed inquiry is required to ascertain when and how the photograph was taken. They said no official confirmation has been made to date regarding the photographer’s identity or the circumstances surrounding the security lapse.
The latest incident has added to a series of recent security breaches at the revered shrine. In November, a devotee from Jajpur allegedly entered the sanctum disguised as a servitor and touched the Ratna Singhasan. In another incident, a devotee from Ahmedabad was caught inside the Jagamohan wearing spectacles fitted with a hidden camera.
The developments have sparked widespread criticism from servitors, devotees and members of the public, who questioned how such serious violations could occur despite strict checking at temple entry points. Many have demanded a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for the lapse.
Meanwhile, Singhadwara police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act and launched an investigation. Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said the cyber team is monitoring social media platforms where images of the Ratna Singhasan have been posted. “Action can be taken only after identifying those who posted and circulated the photographs,” he said.
