Disclose names of sewaks,limit their number: Panel
Agra, Sept. 14 -- Taking on corrupt practices at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, the high-powered committee, constituted on Supreme Court orders, has asked the goswamis/sevayats (priests) to disclose within three days the names of 'sewaks' deployed by them at the temple and restrict their number to one or two.
The committee objected to the practice of 10 to 15 outsiders deployed as 'sewaks' (servants) by goswami/sevayats, who are on duty at the Banke Behari temple on a daily rotational basis.
The committee expressed this view at its meeting at the temple premises on Saturday. Justice (retired) Ashok Kumar chaired the meeting.
The committee observed that these 'sewaks' get involved in extorting money from devotees looking for early and priority 'darshan' and pose hurdles for common devotees.
"There shall be a total ban on this practice. All goswami/sevayats will have to disclose as to who are associated with them as sewaks, whose number should be one or two only. Compliance of this be done within two to three days," the committee stated in a press statement issued after the meeting.
Justice (retired) Ashok Kumar, along with committee members, visited the lanes around the temple and checked the route taken by devotees at different points. The chairman highlighted the need for an effective action plan to regulate the flow of devotees at the temple. The committee called for a new system for devotees' entry at gates 2 and 3. These gates will now have three separate queues each, a total of six, to regulate the flow of the massive crowds.
After darshan, the devotees will move towards exit gates in six queues. The committee called for reinforcing the rule for separate reserved darshan areas for men and women in an upper floor gallery, instructing the temple management, district police and the administration to ensure compliance.
Earlier on Thursday evening, the committee had directed a special audit of the Banke Bihari temple's movable and immovable assets covering a three-year period (2013-16), opening of a long-sealed room in the basement of the temple in Vrindavan and an end to the practice of VIP parchis for darshan.
The high-powered management committee for the Banke Bihari temple was constituted by the Supreme Court in August. The committee was formed to address long-standing issues surrounding the temple's administration and management. The Saturday's meeting was also attended by committee members, including retired district and sessions judge Mukesh Mishra, the incumbent Mathura district and sessions judge Vikas Kumar, Mathura DM CP Singh and representatives of the Goswami community....
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