Bhubaneswar: After raising the sensitive matter of reopening of Ratna Bhandar in different forums, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finally knocked the doors of High Court seeking reopening of the treasure trove of Lord Jagannath in Puri Srimandir.
Former State BJP President Samir Mohanty has filed a PIL in Orissa High Court seeking reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, its repair, and doing a fresh inventory of the ornaments of the deities stored there since long.
Chief Secretary, Gajapati Maharaja, Home Secretary, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Law Secretary, Puri Collector, director general of ASI and CBI Director have been made opposite parties to the PIL.
The petitioner has also appealed for the constitution of a high-level joint committee panel headed by the Odisha Governor or sitting judge for taking inventory of the ornaments of the Lord, said senior advocate and BJP leader Pitambar Acharya.
Though more than 45 years passed, neither the inventory of the ornaments has been made, nor the government showing interest to do the same. So, we have left with no option without moving the court, Acharya said.
“There is now a suspicion in the minds of people as the keys went missing under mysterious circumstances from the treasury and later claimed that some duplicate keys were found,” he added.
As per sources, the condition of the Ratna Bhandar is now deplorable with leaking ceilings and peeling plasters, and needs urgent repairs.
Mohanty has also sought the High Court’s direction to file a criminal case against former Puri district collector during whose tenure the missing key of Ratna Bhandar was found. He also demanded for a CBI investigation into the case.
Reacting on the issue, senior Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra said, “When I was a minister, I had tried for the opening of Ratna Bhandar, but failed. A lot of pressure was put on me at that time. Now I demand that the Ratna Bhandar must be opened.”
Similarly, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattanaik questioned the government’s reluctance in opening the Ratna Bhandar.
“Why the Odisha govt is afraid of opening Srimandir Ratna Bhandar. Gajapati Maharaja, Shankaracharya and servitors want the opening of Ratna Bhandar. Why government sitting silent?” said Pattanayak.
Recently, Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan and several senior servitors had expressed concerns over the physical condition of the treasure trove of the 12th Century shrine.