Bhubaneswar: Servitors of the Jagannath temple met chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday to voice their objection to the Supreme Court's suggestion to allow non-Hindus to enter the Puri shrine.

Emerging from the meeting, sevayats (servitors) claimed that the chief minister had promised to look into their grievances, which includes their opposition to the apex court's suggestion to abolish their hereditary rights.

The apex court has questioned the practice of family members of the servitors automatically getting the rights to perform temple rituals.

BJD's Puri MP Pinaki Mishra had accompanied the members of the Chhatisa Niyog, the top body of temple servitors, during Sunday's meeting at Naveen Nivas.

The meeting assumed significance as it was held six days ahead of the annual rath yatra in Puri.

Nilakanta Mohapatra, a senior member of the delegation, said: "We told the chief minister that the sanctity of the temple would be destroyed if non-Hindus are allowed inside it. They can have darshan of the deities when they come out of the shrine during the rath yatra. The chief minister has assured us to look into our grievances."

President of the Singhari Nijog, Ramchandra Singhari, said: "We will oppose the entry of people of other faiths into the temple. We will present our stand in the Supreme Court."

He said servitors did not want to indulge in politics over the issue, but the age-old traditions of the shrine must be respected and protected.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Pinaki Mishra said: "The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister saying that they had not been heard by the apex court that passed its interim order on July 5."

Mishra said: "The apex court has not delivered any final verdict. It has said that the directions and orders have to be followed through deep investigation and they are subject to further orders. The Jagannath temple is different from other temples and it has a unique system. While other temples have deities, a 'living god' is worshiped here in the shrine."

He said: "The servitors can present their case when the amicus curiae visits the state. They can also present their views before the Supreme Court. The state government has already constituted a three-member team to look into the issue. The team will listen to servitors and submit its report to the court."

Joining issue, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati said on Sunday: "Our advocates and the advocates of the Puri Jagannath temple are examining the Supreme Court's order on the issue. After the rath yatra is over, the members of the Jagannath temple management committee will meet me to discuss the issue."

Scion of the erstwhile royal family of Puri, Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb, said: "The views of Shankaracharya should be taken on the sensitive issue."

However, he regretted that after the rath yatra gets over, Puri temple ceased to be a priority for the state government.

Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said: "This is a sensitive matter. We should seek the views of Shankaracharya and Puri Gajapati on the issue."