The Odisha Government has emphasized safeguarding and managing the properties of Lord Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu as a key priority. Revenue authorities statewide have been instructed to promptly handle revenue cases concerning the deity’s lands. This directive aims to address pressing issues related to the temple’s properties in Bije Puri and ensure their lawful protection.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, has urged officials to take swift and decisive action on all matters concerning the temple’s land. The Revenue Department highlighted the need for immediate attention to various issues regarding the recording, protection, and management of Lord Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu’s lands. Officials are required to adhere strictly to legal provisions, government directives, and court orders conveyed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
In response to the government’s directive, revenue officers are tasked with expediting the resolution of 11,675 miscellaneous revenue cases filed by the SJTA across multiple districts. Additionally, officials are instructed to implement the Board of Revenue’s decisions in 257 cases under the Odisha Estates Abolition Act. To ensure accurate land records, historical Records of Rights are to be examined for necessary corrections, with a focus on proper documentation of the temple’s endowment properties in compliance with the law.
The Revenue Department has mandated the deployment of field-level officials to identify, verify, and protect Lord Jagannath’s lands. Field inspections will be conducted regularly to prevent illegal encroachments and unauthorized occupation of temple properties. Emphasizing the importance of these actions, the department has called for close monitoring of revenue officers’ progress and regular reviews at district, sub-divisional, and tahasil levels to ensure effective management of the temple’s properties.
