To further strengthen the protection, proper maintenance of land records and effective management of the landed properties of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath, Bije Puri, the Revenue & Disaster Management Department has issued comprehensive instructions to all Revenue Officers.
In this regard, Dr Arabind Kumar Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, has written to the Board of Revenue, all Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), Collectors and the Director of Land Records & Survey (DLRS), directing them to take immediate action on priority.
The Revenue Secretary stated that the identity of the State is intrinsically associated with Lord Shri Jagannath and that safeguarding all properties belonging to the Lord is our moral responsibility. He observed that matters relating to the records, protection and management of the Lord’s landed properties require immediate attention and intervention. Accordingly, the State Government has directed all concerned officers to take necessary action in accordance with the law, Government instructions and the orders of the Hon’ble Courts communicated from time to time by the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
As per the instructions, priority has been accorded to the expeditious disposal of 11,675 miscellaneous revenue cases filed by the SJTA before various Tahasils in the districts of Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Ganjam, Cuttack and Kendrapara. The directions also require immediate implementation of the orders passed by the Member, Board of Revenue in 257 cases filed by the SJTA under Section 7(A) of the Odisha Estates Abolition Act.
Wherever necessary, the Record of Rights (RoR) of 1927–28 shall be examined and appropriate steps taken for correction of the Khewat. Further, while adjudicating cases relating to the endowment properties of Lord Shree Jagannath, officers have been directed to examine the pre-settlement records of 1888–89, 1925–26, 1927–28, 1929–30 and 1977–78, along with other historical revenue records and prepare accurate records of the endowment properties in accordance with law.
The instructions also require that authenticated copies of the pre-settlement and settlement Records of Rights, along with the settlement-to-current record correlation reports, be made available to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) at the earliest to facilitate efficient conduct of cases before the Board of Revenue.
The Department has further directed that Revenue Inspectors, Amins and other experienced field-level functionaries be deployed for identification, verification and protection of the Lord’s lands. Regular field inspections shall be undertaken to ensure strict vigilance against illegal encroachment, unauthorised occupation, fraudulent claims and the creation of private interests over the Lord’s properties.
The Department has clarified that all these matters shall be accorded the highest priority and reviewed regularly in the monthly revenue review meetings at the district, sub-divisional and Tahasil levels. Monthly progress reports shall also be submitted to the Revenue & Disaster Management Department.
The State Government has directed all district administrations to take necessary measures to ensure the protection, preservation and lawful management of the properties of Lord Shree Jagannath & ensure to minimise unnecessary litigation.
