Cuttack: The Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) will be responsible for supervising the inventory process of valuable items, including ornaments, stored in the Ratna Bhandaram of the Jagannath Puri Temple. On Friday, the Orissa High Court issued a directive to the state government, instructing them to establish a high-level committee should they be approached.
“The Orissa High Court has stipulated that the state government must form the committee within 60 days from the date of the Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee’s approach. The court specified that this committee’s role would be to support the Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) in conducting the inventory.”
The court issued this directive as part of its resolution of a public interest litigation filed by senior BJP leader Sameer Mohanty, which pertained to the security of the Ratna Bhandaram (treasury) at the Puri Jagannath Temple. Senior Advocate Buddhadev Routre represented the Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), whereas Senior Advocate Pithambar Acharya represented the petitioner.
In a submitted affidavit, the temple management committee apprised the court last month that the gem treasury contains 149.47 kg of gold ornaments and 198.79 kg of silver ornaments and vessels, along with numerous vessels made from various other alloys.
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