(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act the general superintendence of the Temple and its endowments shall vest in the State Government which may pass any orders that may be deemed necessary for the proper maintenance or administration of the Temple or its endowments or in the interest of the general public worshipping in the Temple.
1. Substituted vide Orissa Act 12 of 2004.
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(2) Subject to the other provisions of this Act the State Government may call for and examine the records of 1[Chief Administrator] or of the Committee in respect of any proceedings with a view to satisfy themselves as to the regularity of such proceeding or the correctness, legality or propriety of any decision or order made therein, and if in any case it appears to the State Government that any such decision or order should be modified, annulled, reversed or remitted for reconsideration, they may pass orders accordingly:
Provided that the State Government may stay the execution of any such decision or order pending the exercise of their power under Sub-section (2) in respect there of.
2[30-A. Offences :– (1) Whenever any person having duties to perform in respect of the Nitis of the Temple or Seva-Puja of the deity raises any claim or dispute any fails or refuses to perform such duties knowing or having reasons to believe that the non-performance of the said duties would cause delay in the performance of the Niti or Seva-puja or inconvenience or harassment to the public or any section thereof entitled to worship in the Temple and willfully disobeys or fails to comply with the orders of 1[Chief Administrator] directing him to perform his duties without prejudice to the results of a proper adjudication of such claim or dispute, such person or any other person who abets such conduct shall be guilty of an offence punishable on conviction with fine which-may extend up to 3[five thousand rupees].
4[(2) Whoever
(a) voluntarily causes obstruction by use of force or otherwise to any Sevak in the due performance of any Puja or Niti which such Sevak is entitled or authorised to perform; or
(b) willfully does any act whereby any bhog-offered to Lord Jagannath is defiled; or
(c) not being a Sevak exhibits any Thali or other receptacle in such manner as might induce any visitor to place any offering, whether in cash or in kind, in such Thali or other receptacle; shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to 3[two thousand rupees] or with both.
(3) Whoever not being authorised by the Committee or 1[Chief Administrator] interferes with the free movement of visitors within the premises of the Temple or with any precautionary measures taken for their safety or convenience shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to 3[one thousand rupees] or with both.
(4) Whoever :–
(a) not being the Sevak entitled to perform any Niti or Puja or to offer any bhog to any deity installed within the premises of the Temple, performs such Niti or Puja or offers such bhog ; or
1. Substituted vide Orissa Act 12 of 2004.
2. Substituted vide Orissa Act 17 of 1968.
3. Substituted vide Orissa Act 16 of 2003.
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(b) forcibly enters into any place within the Temple when such entrance is prohibited under any law or custom or under any lawful order issued by the Committee or by 1[Chief Administrator]; or
(c) takes inside the premises of the Temple any article knowing that the taking of such article is prohibited under any law or custom or by any declaration made and published in the prescribed manner by the Committee with due regard to the prevailing custom, public health, morality or the religious sentiments of the public; shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two months or with fine which may extend to 2[one thousand rupees] or with both.
(5) Whoever :–
(a) dries Annamahaprasad for conversion into Nirmalya at any place within the premises of the Temple without being authorised by the Committee in that behalf; or
(b) sells or offers or exposes for sale any Mahaprasad at any place within the premises of the Temple, other than the place allotted by the Committee for the said purpose; or
(c) answers the call of nature at any place within the premises of the Temple, other than that set apart for the purpose; or
(d) enters the premises of the Temple in a state of intoxication and conducts himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person; or
(e) commits any act of indecency or uses obscene or abusive language within the premises of the Temple;
shall on conviction be punishable with fine which may extend to 2[one thousand rupees].
3[30-B. Offence to be cognisable :– Any police officer may arrest without a warrant any person who is committing or who is reasonably suspected to have committed any offence under this Act.
30-C. Gognizance of offences :– (1) No Court inferior to that of a 2[Magistrate of the First Class] shall try any offence under this Act.
(2) No Court shall take cognizance of any such offence without the previous sanction of 1[Chief Administrator].
30-D. Composition of offences :– (1) 1[Chief Administrator] may accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed an offence under this Act a sum of money not exceeding :–
(a) in cases coming under Clause (b) of Sub-section (2) of Section 30-A, double the amount of the value of the bhog; and
(b) in-any other case, the maximum amount of fine which may be imposed in respect of the offence, by way of composition of the offence.
1. Substituted vide Orissa Act 12 of 2004.
2. Substituted vide Orissa Act 16 of 2003.
3. Substituted vide Orissa Act 17 of 1968.
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(2) On the payment of such sum of money the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person.
30 -E. Fines to be credited to Temple Fund :– All amounts realised on accounts of fines upon conviction for offences under this Act or as a result of composition shall be credited to the Temple Fund.]