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Odisha Acts to Protect Lord Jagannath Temple Lands from Encroachment

The Odisha Revenue Department convened a high-level meeting to ensure the protection and restoration of lands belonging to the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri. Revenue Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee directed officials to implement Supreme Court and High Court orders concerning these properties. The meeting decided to establish a dedicated Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu Land Cell within the department to manage the temple's assets. Discussions also focused on correcting land records and evicting illegal encroachments, particularly in Khordha district.

Key Points: Odisha Moves to Safeguard Jagannath Temple Lands

  • High-level meeting on temple land protection
  • Orders to implement court judgments
  • Establishment of a dedicated land cell
  • Focus on evicting illegal encroachments
2 min read

Odisha govt moves to safeguard lands belonging to Lord Jagannath Temple

Odisha govt holds high-level meet to protect & restore Lord Jagannath Temple lands, orders eviction of illegal encroachments statewide.

"Lord Shree Jagannath is regarded as the supreme spiritual landlord... safeguarding all his landed properties is our collective moral responsibility. - Arabinda Kumar Padhee"

Bhubaneswar, Feb 19

The Odisha Revenue Department on Thursday convened a high-level meeting to deliberate on the protection and restoration of lands belonging to Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri, located at various locations across the state.​

The high-level meeting was held at the Lok Seva Bhavan here under the chairmanship of Revenue Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee. According to an official statement, the meeting's objective was to ensure the protection of land belonging to Lord Jagannath. ​

The Revenue Secretary, during the meeting, directed the officials to take the necessary steps to ensure the effective implementation of all orders and judgments of the Supreme Court of India and the Orissa High Court concerning the protection and restoration of land belonging to Lord Jagannath.​

"Lord Shree Jagannath is regarded as the supreme spiritual landlord of our Odia community. Therefore, safeguarding all his landed properties is our collective moral responsibility," said Padhee.

​The Revenue Secretary also directed that a dedicated Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu Land Cell be established within the Revenue Department to strengthen the protection and management of the landed properties of the Lord.​

He also emphasised the need for correction of land records (Record-of-Rights) of all landed properties registered in the name of Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu Bije (Lord Jagannath), Puri, through the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and for expeditious disposal of pending cases.​

The official sources also informed that discussions were also held during the meeting regarding the eviction of illegal encroachments from lands under the administration of the 12th-century shrine, particularly in various Tahasils of Khordha district and along National and State Highways.​

The revenue department officials also agreed upon that a review meeting on the protection of Lord Jaganath's landed properties will be held on the first Wednesday of every month under the chairmanship of the Collector of Khordha district.​

The meeting was attended by Amrit Ruturaj, Collector of Khordha; Debabrata Sahu, a senior officer of SJTA; and senior officers of the Land Reforms Branch of the Revenue Department, as well as Sub-Collectors and Tahasildars of Khordha district.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good move by the government. The temple's lands generate revenue for seva and maintenance. Ensuring they are protected and records are corrected is crucial for transparency and the temple's future.
R
Rahul R
While I support protecting temple lands, I hope this doesn't become another bureaucratic exercise with monthly meetings but no real action on the ground. The proof will be in the actual eviction of illegal encroachments.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has visited Puri, the temple is magnificent. It's good to see the state taking concrete steps to preserve its heritage and assets. Proper land management is key for any historical institution.
V
Vikram M
Finally! Encroachment on temple land has been an issue for decades. Setting up a dedicated cell and monthly reviews sounds promising. Hope they follow the Supreme Court orders strictly.
N
Nikhil C
The sentiment is right, but execution is everything. Land records in India are a mess. Correcting RoR for all properties will be a massive task. They need a clear timeline and public updates.

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