The Odisha Board of Revenue has struck down a 37-year-old administrative order, paving the way for more than 11 acres of prime land near the world-famous Konark Sun Temple to return to government records.
With an estimated current market value exceeding Rs 110 crore, this high-stakes decision marks a monumental victory for state property protection and the planned development of a UNESCO World Heritage region.
A Historic Heritage Site at the Centre
Built in the 13th century, the Konark Sun Temple is not merely an architectural masterpiece of ancient India; it is the heartbeat of Odisha’s cultural identity, glorious history, and tourism-driven economy. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, every inch of land surrounding this architectural wonder holds immense significance. Protecting this perimeter is crucial not only for heritage conservation and tourism infrastructure but also for safeguarding public resources for future generations.
The Case and the 1989 Anomaly
The dispute centres around land plots in the Konark mouza of Puri district, which were originally classified as Anabadi (government wasteland/uncultivated land) in the historic settlement records.
However, in 1989, a former Commissioner of Land Records and Settlement passed an order transferring ownership rights of a portion of this land to a private individual within a span of just two months, allegedly without granting the Puri District Administration adequate opportunity to present facts. Over the decades, the private claimant cited long-term possession, cultivation, rent payment, and subsequent revenue entries as proof of ownership.
The Legal Turning Point
Hearing the revision petitions filed by the Puri Collector in November 2025, Member of the Board of Revenue, Satyabrata Sahu, meticulously examined the legal validity of the old hand-pattas (hatpattas), revenue records, and land transfer norms.
The Board underscored a fundamental principle of revenue law: long-term possession or tax payment alone does not automatically create legal ownership if the original grantor lacked the legal authority to transfer the property. Furthermore, transactions involving intermediary leases must strictly comply with the Odisha Estates Abolition Act. Because the original title was never legally established, subsequent mutations and sale deeds could not cure the foundational defect.
The proceedings were strongly represented by state counsel Sri Siddharth Sankar Das, alongside active administrative contributions from the Additional Sub-Collector (Settlement), Gop Tehsildar, and Additional Tehsildar.
Directives for Action
With the 1989 order officially set aside, the Board of Revenue has directed settlement and consolidation authorities to:
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Re-verify sabik and hal records, maps, land measurements, and boundaries.
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Ensure necessary rectifications are made in revenue documents.
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Secure public roads and other state or common properties situated on the ground.
This landmark decision goes beyond resolving a routine property dispute. It underscores the administration’s renewed vigilance in protecting public assets, preserving Odisha’s priceless cultural heritage, and ensuring that the surroundings of its most celebrated global landmark remain secure for generations to come.
