Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has warned of strong action against all persons who made attempts to illegally encroach upon and sell land belonging to Lord Jagannath in Puri.
It was alleged that attempts are being made to sell land belonging to Lord Jagannath under Matitota mouza in Puri.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Saturday filed a complaint before Baseli Sahi police station in Puri alleging attempts are being made to sell land belonging to Lord Jagannath under Matitota mouza (unit -1, khata number 38) in Puri.
SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee has urged the District Magistrate and SP to take immediate measures to stop the illegal sale attempt.
The disputed property, registered under khata no. 38, comprises 109 plots that are legally owned by the deity.
The temple administration has cautioned the public against engaging in such illegal activities, warning that any attempts to transfer or encroach on temple property would lead to severe legal consequences, including punishment.
Speaking to media persons here, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said, “We will take strong action against all persons involved in the act. If any plot has been sold to some person, we will take stringent action against the persons including seller, buyer, sub-registrar, who transferred the land.”
The government will not tolerate unauthorized sale of a single inch of land of Lord Jagannath in any circumstances, he assured.
The Temple Administration has also initiated its move in this direction, the minister informed.
The government is mulling steps for settlement of the Jagannath temple land available in Odisha and outside as per Uniform Policy formulated in 2003, as maximum land parcels are under encroachment, he said, adding, “Through this move, a big corpus fund for the temple can be created.”
The Jagannath temple in Puri owns around 60,426 acres of land spread across 24 districts, besides 395 acres outside the State.