Thousands of acres of land registered in the name of Lord Shree Jagannath, scattered across Odisha and beyond, have long remained unmanaged and vulnerable to encroachments. This has resulted in negligible revenue for the Shree Mandir (Jagannath Temple) in Puri. At the same time, many poor and landless sevayats (temple servitors) who have resided on these lands for decades lack any formal rights. To address these issues, a review meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Law, Works, and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan to discuss amendments to the Shree Mandir land settlement policy.
The meeting, conducted at the conference hall of the Law Department in Lok Seva Bhawan, focused on the proper settlement of lands in Lord Jagannath’s name and providing land allocations to long-term residents, including Daitapatis, Niyogs, sevayats, and associated mathas (monasteries). The proposed amendments aim to benefit both sevayats and non-sevayats who have been living on these lands sustainably, while streamlining revenue collection for the temple. Discussions also covered strategies to reclaim encroached valuable properties and allot them at the highest possible value to maximise income for Shree Mandir’s management.
In addition, the meeting deliberated on necessary revisions to the ancient Shree Mandir Act to ensure disciplined rituals, worship, and administration. Key proposals included forming sub-committees for better governance, enforcing strict rules against disorderly conduct, banning prohibited items within the temple premises, and introducing penalty provisions. Emphasis was placed on promoting awareness among devotees to maintain decorum by wearing appropriate Indian attire in the temple area. The reforms also seek to incorporate legal measures for stringent action against those spreading misinformation about Shree Jagannath culture or engaging in defamation on social media.
During the event, Minister Harichandan unveiled a diary published by the Law Department. The meeting was attended by prominent officials, including Principal Secretary of the Law Department Dr Pabitra Mohan Samal, Special Secretary Bhagaban Prasad Sahu, Additional Secretary Shiva Prasad Mahapatra, Joint Secretary Anshuman Mahanti, Additional Secretary of the Revenue Department Amiya Kumar, and Joint Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sahu.
These amendments are expected to enhance the temple’s financial stability, protect its cultural heritage, and provide equitable land rights to deserving servitors, marking a significant step toward efficient management of one of India’s most revered religious sites.
