Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Mrinalini Padhi Vs Union of India & Others dated 04/11/2019 management of Jagannath temple, Puri, Odisha.

The SC on November 4 directed the government of Odisha to frame a plan, with support from the Jagannath temple administration for providing shelter and other facilities to people visiting the shrine.

The temple administration has been asked to maintain hygiene in rosaghar (kitchen) and to ensure that the preparation of food is done in permanently covered area and for that the Archaeological Survey of India has been ordered to clear the plan for construction of sheds/permanent structures while ensuring that the form of the new structure is maintained in the same manner as the ancient one.

Further, proper effluent treatment plant and waste management system be set up, alongwith toilets with modern amenities, keeping in mind the average footfall in the temple, which is large. The state government has to depute a full time Chief Administrator for managing the temple. 

The bench which comprised of Justices Arun Mishra, Indira Banerjee, M. R. Shah and S. Ravindra Bhat was dealing with a PIL filed by Mrinalini Padhi seeking better administration and facilities for pilgrims coming to the temple.