No Respite for Suspended Daitapatis from Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court rejected the petition filed by suspended Daitapatis – Jayakrushna Das Mohapatra and his father Kashinath Das Mohapatra, whho were barred from participating in any rituals related to Nabakalebara Rath Yatra. However, the duo have decided to continue with their fight.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had taken the decision to suspend the erring Daitapatis for the Nabakalebara fiasco. They had moved the Orissa HC, seeking a stay on the order. Jayakarushna Das Mohapatra is the President of Puri Town BJD.

The SJTA has put the blame on the father-son duo, saying the rituals got delayed due to their stubbornness. It was Jayakrushna Mohapatra, who demanded his father to be present during the ‘Ghata Parivartan’. When the Badagrahis, who were entrusted with the task, protested and tried to prevent them, the mess occurred.

“Jayakrushna Das Mohapatra and his father Kashinath Das Mohapatra have been suspended from Daita Seva for an indefinite period under section 21 (B) of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954,” SJTA chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra had said while issuing the suspension order on June 24.