New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to form a committee to examine the management practices at major shrines in the country to prevent the exploitation of pilgrims and passed specific directives relating to the Puri temple.

The bench of Justices A.K. Goel and Ashok Bhushan, however, did not specify whether Friday's directive applied only to Hindu shrines.

An Odia woman, Mrinalini Padhi, had moved the apex court alleging harassment and fleecing of visitors by servitors at the Puri shrine. She also complained about other problems faced by the devotees.

The court noted that the matter related to the pilgrims' right to freedom of religion besides issues of social order and the protection of places of national importance. It issued notices to the Centre, Odisha government, the Puri temple authorities and others and passed interim orders.

"(i) The district judge, Puri, may give a report on factual aspects of (a) difficulties faced by the visitors; (b) exploitative practices, if any; (c) deficiencies in the management, if any; (d) suggestions, if any," the court said, seeking an interim report by June 30. It said the district judge might take help from the collector and the administrator, who "may provide necessary funds, facilities and information".

"(ii) We also direct the administrator to review the arrangement of CCTV cameras already installed. Apart from the installation of more CCTV cameras at appropriate locations, footage thereof should be viewed by an independent committee at suitable intervals and the report thereof be given to the district judge, Puri, once every month so that the district judge may issue any direction in this regard, if necessary," the court said.

"(iii) The administrator may also ensure that no direct collection of the offerings is made by any sevaks and all the offerings... are deposited and accounted for and properly utilised. They should not be individually pocketed by the sevaks/attendants who may be given their due remuneration. To ensure this, the help of CCTV cameras and (their) footage or other steps may be explored."

The court directed the Odisha government to form a committee to study the management practices at important shrines outside the state - such as the Vaishno Devi, Somnath and Tirupati temples and the Golden Temple in Amritsar - and suggest by June 30 any changes it feels necessary at the Puri temple.

It said that "since these issues may be common to various other important shrines in the country", it was directing the Centre to also form a committee to study the management practices there "for the benefit of all visitors".

The bench appointed senior advocate Gopal Subramanium as amicus curiae and posted the matter for July 5.