Kamakhya temple

Oct. 31: Priests of the Bordeori community forcibly occupied the office of the Kamakhya Debutter Board last evening, after a disagreement with board members over the election to the post of doloi (head priest) of the Kamakhya temple here.

The action of the priests, who were accompanied by a few youths, has affected normal functioning of the board office.

According to sources, under Section 25 (A), every temple should have a doloi or head priest to oversee the efficient functioning of the temple administration.

Hence, Gauhati High Court passed an order on October 25, directing Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri to conduct elections to the post of head priest within three months.

“After the head priest of the Kamakhya temple passed away a few years ago, the post fell vacant. According to the directive issued by the high court, the deputy commissioner is supposed to hold the elections to the post within three months. Though the head priest has to belong to the Bordeori community, a few priests from this community misunderstood the order and forcibly occupied our office, as if they have already been entrusted with the task of running the temple,” Naba Kanta Sarma, secretary of the Kamakhya Debutter Board, said.

“The priests cannot just barge into our office this way. Misinterpreting the order, they also told the local people that they have already won the elections. Can that be possible when the election is yet to take place? Now we are keeping away from the office, as an altercation with them can lead to the disruption of law and order on the temple premises. They have even brought some youths along with them,” Sarma said.

Gauhati High Court issued another order today, directing the deputy commissioner to provide all support to the board to run the administration in the temple.

“We have the court order in hand, wherein it is stated that the district administration should provide us the necessary assistance to ensure the smooth running of the temple. Since the temple has already been closed for the day, we will inform the deputy commissioner about the forceful occupation by the priests early tomorrow morning,” Sarma said.

However, Agnihotri denied receiving any court order today.

“According to the court order issued on October 25, my responsibility is to conduct the election of a doloi from among the priests of the Bordeori community. But I have neither received any other court order today, nor have I been informed of any altercation between a section of the priests and members of the board regarding the elections,” Agnihotri said.