A picture purportedly taken from the "Ratna Singhasan" inside the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri has gone viral on social media, raising important concerns about the long-standing prohibition on taking pictures inside the shrine.
According to sources, the picture, which allegedly depicts Lord Jagannath on the Ratna Singhasan, was posted on Instagram by a user going by the moniker "Ashirbad945" and subsequently shared as a status update.
The widely shared post has raised questions over how, in spite of numerous security measures and frequent warnings against using electronic devices, a cell phone or camera might have entered the temple's extremely restricted interior premises.
A purportedly close-up photo

Sources claim that the shot was taken in close proximity to the Ratna Singhasan, which is strictly prohibited from being photographed according to temple regulations. Particularly during peak darshan hours, the incident has sparked heated debates regarding crowd surveillance, screening procedures, and on-the-ground attentiveness.
According to temple officials, an investigation is necessary to find out how the picture was shot and if it was uploaded recently or not. The identity of the photographer and the precise moment of the breach have not yet been officially confirmed.
Frequent Security Vulnerabilities in the Past Few Months
The most recent event is the latest in a string of security failures at the 12th-century shrine that have been documented in recent months.Two breaches occurred at the Srimandir in one day in November. After the Gopal Ballabha ceremony, a devotee from Jajpur is said to have entered the sanctum sanctorum while posing as a servant and touched the Ratna Singhasan. The cops arrested him and interrogated him.
Another devotee from Ahmedabad was apprehended inside the Jagamohan that same day while sporting eyeglasses that concealed a camera. When the device was discovered during darshan, temple officials apprehended the person and turned him over to the Singhadwara police.
A servant was also accused of using a cell phone to take pictures inside the temple premises earlier in October, in violation of the ban on electronic devices for all people, including security guards and servers.

Proposed Amendments and Legal Provisions
According to current law, taking pictures inside a temple without permission carries a maximum penalty of two months in jail and a fine of Rs 1,000. Devotees have conceded, meanwhile, that the existing penal system provides little deterrence, especially when it comes to situations involving hidden recording devices.
The Odisha government has suggested changes to the Shree Jagannath Temple Act in response to persistent incidents. According to Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, the administration is thinking of making unapproved filming inside the temple a crime that carries a maximum seven-year sentence and non-bailable charges.

Awaiting Inquiry
According to sources, temple officials stated that the results of the inquiry and verification of the viral image would determine the next course of action in the most recent case.
In relation to the social media post, authorities have not yet verified if an official police complaint has been filed.