Justice (retd) Bimal Prasad Das, who has been appointed head of the one-man commission of inquiry to bring reforms in the Puri Shri Jagannath Temple, talks to Lalmohan Patnaik of The Telegraph

• How do you see the job assigned to you?

It is an onerous task before me. The terms of reference are so vast that research on the Puri Jagannath temple, its deities and culture, along with the madala panji (temple chronicle) and Record of Rights prepared under the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1952, which gives a detailed account of duties and privileges enjoyed by sevayats (servitors), is necessary to give a justified opinion.

• The state government issued notification on appointment of the commission of inquiry on July 23 with Cuttack as its headquarters. When will you start your work?

As soon as the government provides the required infrastructure, the commission will start work by first issuing a notification inviting from people - both general public and those associated with the temple - their opinion, experiences and suggestions concerning the temple, in the form of affidavits. One month deadline will be given for receiving the affidavits.

• Do you feel there is need for bringing reforms into the Puri Jagannath temple?

While appointing the commission of inquiry the government has expressed concern that despite enactment of the 1952 act and the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, there has been delay in performance of rituals and lack of proper management of the sevapuja of the deities. This has hurt the sentiment and emotions of devotees...

• The daily rituals need to be performed strictly according to the schedule to prevent congestion and overcrowding leading to untoward situations. Will the commission visit the Tirupati Temple or Vaishno Devi Temple for obtaining firsthand knowledge on the spot, assessment of the procedure adopted there for control and management of huge crowd?

It may not be necessary as the temple of Lord Jagannath with its elaborate and complex ritual system involving a multitude of sevaks, pujaris and other persons belonging to hundreds of categories is totally different from all temples in the country... Moreover, the temple has a unique system, because the deities come out of the temple (rath yatra) and mingle with the general public and give darshan to those who could not enter the temple...

• What will be your priority?

The safety and security of devotees for hassle-free darshan of the deities, along with proper maintenance of law and order inside and as well as outside the temple.

• What if the Record of Rights needs to be amended?

Nothing is permanent. No law is permanent. Law changes according to time.

• Will the commission take up the issue of prohibition on devotees from climbing on to the chariots and touching the deities?

The issue needs best to be kept aside as it is a subjudice matter pending before Orissa High Court.

• Any other priority...

Protection and conservation of the temple, its monument and also propagation of the Jagannath culture will be among the concerns of the commission.

• The government has expressed concern over the challenge posed to safety and security of the temple from terrorist activities and other corners.

Much will depend on the co-operation from the government as the commission will seek the view of police officers and administrators, both present and retired, to deal with that aspect.

• The government expects you to submit report within six months. Will it be possible on your part or the commission will take years like other judicial commissions appointed by the government?

I will not make any delay from my own side. I will try my best to do justice to the work assigned to me.

• Do you plan to submit an interim report?

Time will say.