In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed a public interest petition concerning difficulties faced by visitors to Shri Jagannath Temple at Puri, including harassment by temple staff, commercialization of rituals, management deficiencies, and poor hygiene. The Court held that proper management of major pilgrimage centres is a matter of public interest and cultural heritage importance. It issued interim directions appointing the District Judge to investigate visitor difficulties and exploitative practices, directed enhanced CCTV monitoring to prevent misappropriation of offerings, and constituted committees to study management practices at other major shrines nationwide to identify reforms benefiting all visitors.
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