Cuttack: Justice B.P. Das Commission on Thursday issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) seeking reply as to what action had been taken in connection with the handwritten posters put up the walls of the Puri Jagannath temple.

"The commission has issued notice to ASI's superintending archaeologist (Bhubaneswar circle) giving him a fortnight's time to give his response as to whether an FIR has been lodged in connection with the pasting of posters and if not why," commission secretary B.P. Parija told The Telegraph.

The commission's notice came after posters on smart phone ban at the temple came up on the shrine's wall last week.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced imposition of ban on entry of smart phones inside the temple on December 19. The ban will be enforced from January 1.

"The commission expected the ASI to register cases invoking sections of the Monuments Preservation Act that prescribes two years' imprisonment and Rs one lakh fine for defacing walls of protected monuments," Parija said.

The handwritten posters, which have been issued in the name of the Sevayat Samaj, the temple administration has urged all to maintain guidelines for devotees and servitors. It also says that devotees can carry cell phones without cameras inside the temple.

The SJTA had banned the entry of smart phones after photographs of the temple premises went viral on social media.

The ban will be applied not only to devotees, but also to servitors, politicians, ministers and bureaucrats.

The SJTA is providing mobile phones having its logo but without cameras or Internet facilities to servitors so that they can carry them inside the temple.