With millions of devotees expected to throng the holy city of Puri for the world-famous Ratha Yatra 2026, the Government of Odisha has taken a proactive step to ensure flawless organisation, crowd management, and robust law and order.
In a notification issued today by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department, the State Government has appointed 23 senior officers as Executive Magistrates within the local limits of Puri district.
These officers, already deployed to Puri as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) for the festival, will exercise their magisterial powers from 30 June 2026 to 27 July 2026.
The move aims to strengthen on-ground coordination among various departments and guarantee the safety and smooth conduct of one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
Ratha Yatra, the annual chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, is not just a religious event but a massive logistical and security challenge. The deployment of these experienced administrators from diverse backgrounds — including health, urban development, excise, tourism, sports, and land administration — reflects the government’s commitment to a well-coordinated and secure festival.
Here is the complete list of the 23 officers appointed as Executive Magistrates:
- Kailash Chandra Nayak, OAS (SS), Special Secretary to Government, Health & FW Department
- Binaya Kumar Dash, OAS (SS), Special Secretary to Government, H & UD Department
- Niti Ranjan Sen, OAS (SAG), MD, Odisha State Seeds Corporation Ltd., Odisha
- Subhananda Mohapatra, OAS (SAG), Director, Housing-cum-ex-Officio Additional Secretary to Government, H & U.D. Department
- Debasish Patnaik, OAS (SAG), Additional Secretary to Government, Excise Department
- Pradip Kumar Sahoo – A, OAS (SAG), Additional Secretary to Government, Works Department
- Suvash Chandra Nathsharma, OAS (SAG), Additional SRC, O/o the SRC, Odisha, Bhubaneswar
- Bijaya Kumar Swain, OAS (SAG), Additional Secretary to Government, Sports & Y.S. Department
- Kailash Chandra Das, OAS (SAG), Additional Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhubaneswar
- Arun Kumar Biswal, OAS (SAG), Additional Secretary to Government, Commerce & Transport Department
- Jyotishankar Mohapatra, OAS (SAG), Additional Secretary to Government, Mission Shakti Department
- Manoj Kumar Swain, OAS (SAG), Joint Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar
- Saroj Kumar Swain, OAS (SAG), Additional Secretary to Government, Tourism Department
- Trilochan Patra, OAS (S), Joint Secretary to Government, Excise Department
- Manoj Kumar Behera, OAS Gr.A (SB), Deputy Secretary to Government, Tourism Department
- Bijay Kumar Nayak, OAS Gr.A (SB), Land Officer, IDCO, Bhubaneswar
- Subrat Kumar Behera, OAS Gr.A (SB), Deputy Secretary to Government, HT & H Department
- Jitendra Kumar Nayak, OAS Gr.A (SB), Additional E.O., Zilla Parishad, Nayagada
- Subrat Kumar Jena, OAS Gr.A (SB), Land Officer, IDCO, Bhubaneswar
- Bhabataran Sahu, OAS Gr.A (SB), Land Officer, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar
- Bijaya Kumar Behera, OAS Gr.A (SB), Additional E.O., Zilla Parishad, Ganjam
- Kishor Kumar Panda, OAS Gr.A (SB), Additional E.O., Zilla Parishad, Baragada
- Hemanta Bharimal, OAS Gr.A (JB), Land Officer, O/o- Commissioner of Endowment, Odisha
This strategic deployment of experienced administrators is expected to play a pivotal role in the successful and peaceful celebration of Ratha Yatra 2026, ensuring that every devotee experiences the divine blessings of Lord Jagannath in a safe and well-managed environment.
