Cuttack, Sept. 29: The commission, headed by Justice (retired) B.P. Das, started working from here today to look into how the Puri Jagannath temple was functioning.

The panel is expected to submit its report within six months suggesting measures for better administration and management of the affairs of the 12th century shrine, which has an elaborate and complex ritual system involving hundreds of servitors, priests and other people.

On July 23, the state government had appointed Justice B.P. Das, a retired judge of Orissa High Court, to head a one-man commission of inquiry following a hue and cry over the attack on Puri collector and the delay in conducting the rituals of Lord on the occasion of niladri bije on July 17.

For the post of secretary to the commission, retired district judge Bibhu Prasanna Parija has been appointed. Former Puri temple administrator Mohinimohan Tripathy will assist the commission. Its headquarters at Kala Vikas Kendra Road in Cuttack was inaugurated today.

"The commission has started the process for issuing a notification in the print media within a few days inviting from people - both general public and those associated with the temple - their opinions, experiences and suggestions concerning the temple," Justice Das said.

"Drop boxes will be placed at the offices of all district collectors, Bhubaneswar sub-divisional officer and the commission in Cuttack for receiving affidavits within one month of the publication of the notification," Justice Das said. The commission will also receive responses through registered post and email. It will shortly launch its website to facilitate

Odias residing in various parts of the world to give their views related to the temple.

"In the interim, the commission will collect evidence and suggestions from police and the temple administration regarding law and order, security and traffic issues related to the temple. It will also collect video clippings recorded by cops in connection with the recent disturbance and delay in conducting of the nitis (rituals). Data related to the disturbances in nitis will also be collected from the cameras installed inside the temple."

In the terms of reference for the commission of inquiry, the government had expressed concern that despite enactment of the Puri Shri Jagannath Temple (Administration) Act, 1952, and the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, there has been delay in performance of rituals and lack of proper management of seva puja of the deities.