Bhubaneswar: Dissolving the previous committee led by Justice Arijit Pasayat, the BJP Government has reconstituted the high-level Committee to supervise reopening of Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath temple for repair work and inventory of valuable stored inside the Bhandar.
Speaking to media persons, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said a 16-member committee led by retired judge of Orissa High Court, Justice Biswanath Rath was formed in accordance with the direction of the high court.
“A High Level Committee is hereby reconstituted, under the Chairmanship of Shri Justice Biswanath Rath, to supervise the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee in carrying out the inventorization of valuables including jewelleries stored in the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri,” read a notification issued by the Law department.
The 16-member new committee headed by former judge of Orissa High Court, Justice Biswanath Rath, will conduct its meeting in Puri on July 6 to decide the date for opening of the Ratna Bhandar and prepare modalities for repair of inner chamber of the Bhandar and inventory of valuable of the Lord stored inside the chamber, Shri Harichandan said.
The Minister said the panel will also decide which external agencies will be involved to examine the quality of the valuables stored in the treasury of the 12th century shrine.
Notably, in March this year, the previous BJD government had formed a 12-member committee led by retired judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Arijit Pasayat, to supervise the inventory of jewellery and other valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar.