In a significant development, the Orissa High Court has directed the state government to form a High-Level Committee to oversee the inventory preparation of the ‘Ratna Bhandar‘ (Treasury) of the revered Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri. This directive was issued in response to a plea by BJP leader Samir Mohanty.
Mohanty’s plea sought the formation of a high-power committee, preferably under the chairmanship of the Governor of Odisha or a sitting judge of the Orissa High Court, to supervise the inventory preparation of the valuables, including the ornaments of Lord Jagannath, housed in the Ratna Bhandar. Additionally, he urged the court to direct the temple administration to open the Ratna Bhandar to facilitate repair works on its inner walls.
Reacting to the judgment, Mohanty’s advocate, Senior Counsel Pitambar Acharya, stated,
“Today’s judgment is a victory for the Jagannath Culture and 4.5 crore Odias. The Bharatiya Janata Party has been highlighting issues related to the Ratna Bhandar for the past five years. The high court’s judgment has thwarted attempts to avoid inventorying the jewelry. The path has now been cleared for the opening of Ratna Bhandar and the cataloging of the ornaments and valuables stored therein.”
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Subhasis Talapatra and Justice Savitri Ratho, emphasized their faith in the Shri Jagannath Temple Management Committee (SJTMC) to manage the Ratna Bhandar and its structure. The court noted,
“As the apex Court has observed, we are to keep our faith in the SJTMC in the management of the Ratna Bhandar and its structure.”
The plea, which was filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), highlighted the perceived neglect in preparing an inventory of the temple’s valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar. The last such inventory was reportedly conducted in the 1970s.
Senior Advocate Budhadev Routray, representing the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), challenged Mohanty’s right to file the PIL, alleging that he was politicizing the issue for personal and political gains. However, the court, while acknowledging the importance of the issues raised, stated,
“Even if we dismiss the writ petition on the question of locus standi, that dismissal may not refrain the court from delving deeper into these questions as Shri Jagannath Temple is the beacon of ultimate faith for millions.”
The court also took note of a resolution passed during an SJTMC meeting on August 4, 2023, which discussed the repair of the Ratna Bhandar walls and the need for an inventory of the valuables stored therein. The Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) suggested assessing the condition of the inner walls using ‘laser scanning’ and conducting necessary repairs during the Rath Yatra the following year.
In conclusion, the court expressed its hope for collaboration between the ASI and the SJTMC on the conservation efforts for the Ratna Bhandar and urged the state government to assist efficiently when approached by the SJTMC.
Case Details: W.P.(C) PIL No. 20481 of 2023, Date of Judgment: September 29, 2023.
