Govt mulling law amendment to make filming in Puri shrine a punishable offence: Min
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The minister made the statement after a devotee from West Bengal was detained on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to enter the shrine with a hidden camera embedded in his spectacles, the third such incident within a week.
"There should be a proper law to curb such a situation. It is very difficult to identify the people carrying spy cameras inside the temple. The police could know about the spy camera only when there is a flashlight while taking pictures.
Therefore, a law is most essential," Harichandan said.
Partish Pal from West Burdwan was caught at the shrine's west gate by cops on Tuesday. A spy camera-equipped spectacle and his mobile phone were seized. Pal is in police custody.
The incident comes just a day after Bipul Patel (55), from Gujarat's Surat, was caught filming inside the temple using a spectacles fitted with a concealed camera. He was apprehended near Kirtana Chakada at 5:30pm on Monday.
The device was connected to his smartphone, which was later seized from his hotel room.
On July 29, a local, Abhijit Kar, was caught taking photographs inside the temple with a hidden camera in his glasses. All three incidents are being investigated by police.
The repeated violations prompted the shrine administration to convene a high-level meeting, which was attended by Chhatisa Nijog servitors, Puri district collector Dibya Jyoti Mishra and chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Padhee.
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Following the meeting, Padhee said that a proposal will be sent to the state govt seeking amendment of the temple Act. One key proposal is to introduce up to seven years of imprisonment and non-bailable warrant for individuals attempting to damage the sanctity of Jagannath culture, including through unauthorised filming or use of electronic devices. "Anyone caught using spy cams, drones or hidden devices will face strict legal action.
Only security personnel will be allowed to use mobile phones inside the temple, and that too in designated zones for official communication," Padhee said.
He clarified that no servitor or official would be permitted to carry phones on the temple premises.
The meeting also decided that a standard rate chart for Mahaprasad will soon be displayed at Ananda Bazaar, addressing growing concerns about pricing.The administration also resolved to ensure that only Omfed ghee will be used for all temple rituals to maintain purity and quality.
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