Bhubaneswar: In a bold administrative push to safeguard the spiritual and material heritage of Odisha, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Revenue & Disaster Management Dr.Arabinda Kumar Padhee has initiated a comprehensive plan to protect the vast landholdings of Lord Jagannatha.
Presiding over a high-level meeting on 19 February, at the Lok Seva Bhavan, ACS Dr. Padhee, who is also Chief Administrator Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) underscored the profound cultural and religious sentiment attached to these properties, describing the Lord as the ultimate landlord of the Odia people and calling the protection of his lands a collective moral duty.
Dr.Padhee said that Lord Shree Jagannatha is regarded as the supreme spiritual landlord of our Odia community. Therefore, safeguarding all his landed properties is our collective moral responsibility,
The meeting focused on the immediate implementation of various directives from the Supreme Court and the Odisha High Court concerning the restoration and preservation of temple lands. A primary objective set by the Revenue Secretary is the swift resolution of pending legal and administrative issues, alongside a thorough revision of the land records managed by the Shrimandir Management Committee.
Dr. Padhee emphasized the need for correction of land records (Record-of-Rights) of all landed properties registered in the name of Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu Bije, Puri through the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration and for expeditious disposal of pending cases. Discussions were also held regarding the eviction of illegal encroachments from lands under the administration of the Shree Jagannatha Temple, particularly in various Tahasils of Khordha district and along National and State Highways.
It was decided that a review meeting on the protection of Mahaprabhu’s landed properties will be held on the first Wednesday of every month under the chairmanship of the Collector of Khordha district.
To tackle the persistent challenge of illegal encroachment, particularly in Khordha district and along major highways, the state has formalised a structured monitoring system. The Khordha District Magistrate will now lead a dedicated review meeting on the first Wednesday of every month to track the security and status of these lands.
Furthermore, the Revenue Department will establish a specialized Land Cell named Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu Land Cell, to provide dedicated oversight and management.
ACS Dr. Padhee also indicated that this administrative focus will expand beyond Khordha, with state-level reviews and district-specific meetings planned under his direct supervision.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Khordha District Magistrate Amrit Ruturaj and senior SJTA official Shri Debrabrat Sahu, signaling a unified front between the revenue and religious administrations to reclaim and secure the divine assets of the state.