Bhubaneswar: The State Government has taken a major step toward ensuring better governance and preservation of ancient temples, maths, and spiritual institutions. Under the guidance of the Department of Law, a high-level consultative meeting was convened today at the Lok Seva Bhawan conference hall to discuss necessary amendments to the historical Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Act of 1951.
Chaired by the Minister for Law, Works, and Excise, Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan, the deliberations focused on eliminating outdated and redundant provisions within the existing legal framework to make the administration more contemporary and efficient.Principal Secretary of the Law Department Dr. Pabitra Mohan Samal outlined the points for deliberations.
Discussions centered on modernizing legacy clauses to address operational challenges faced by ancient religious shrines across the state. The meeting evaluated the roles, responsibilities, and authority of key administrative positions, including the Endowment Commissioner, Additional Commissioners, and empowered officers. Proposals for cadre restructuring and creating new recruitment avenues within the department were also reviewed.
Minister Harichandan emphasized that implementing these progressive amendments will profoundly fortify both the financial accountability and administrative transparency of religious institutions, preserving their divine sanctity for devotees.
State Law Commissioner Justice Biswanath Rath, Endowment Commissioner Shri Satyanarayana Sarangi, Special Secretary Shri Pranab Kumar Patra, Additional Secretary Shri Shiba Prasad Mohapatra, and Additional Government Advocate Shri Manmaya Kumar Das, alongside other senior officials.