New Delhi:The Supreme Court has asked the management of Jagannath Temple at Puri to provide details whether it can allow entry of non-Hindus, subject them to sticking to a dress code or undertaking to abide by its traditions.

“We also had an interaction on the issue whether the Temple Management can consider, subject to such regulatory measures with regard to dress code, furnishing of a declaration or such other requirements as considered necessary permitting every visitor irrespective of his faith to offer respects and make offerings to the Deity”, a bench of Justices A K Goel and S Abdul Nazeer said in an order while hearing a petition regarding affairs of the temple.

The bench clarified that it was a suggestion and court was not imposing this. “We have just given a suggestion. Let’s see what can be done,” it said.

The court directed that any devotee aggrieved by affairs of any religious shrine in the country can complain to the district judge who may examine the issue and send a report to the High Court.

Hearing the petition which highlighted difficulties faced by visitors to Jagannath Temple and alleged deficiencies in its administration, the Supreme Court had on June 8 asked District Judge, Puri, to give a report.

It also asked Odisha government to constitute a committee to study management in other important shrines and suggest necessary changes for the Puri temple administration. Widening scope of the petition, the court said such issues “may be common to various other important shrines” and directed the Centre “to constitute a committee to collect information with regard to such other shrines so that the management practices therein can be reviewed”.