Odisha Govt Forms New Committee For Ratna Bhandar;  Decision On Opening After July 6 Meeting

Bhubaneswar: The State government today said that a 16-member committee has been constituted which will meet on July 6 to discuss the opening of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath temple.

At a press meet, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that the long-awaited moment of opening of the Ratna Bhandar is about to end. It will be opened soon with the approval of the Chief Minister and in the adherence of the order of the Orissa High Court.

“Ratna Bhandar will be opened after 45 years. Therefore, an efficient 16-member committee headed by Justice Biswanath Dash, a retired judge of Orissa High Court, will work on it. The committee has been formed, which will meet on July 6. A decision will be taken on the opening of Ratna Bhandar in the meeting,” the minister said.

The committee will decide the modalities for the opening of Ratna Bhandar. The government will take action based on the decision of the committee. The meeting will be held at the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) office. Former High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath will chair the committee meeting, the minister said.

In the meantime, the government also dissolved the committee headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat.

Here are the names of the 16-member committee:

1. Justice Biswanath Rath (Chairman)
2. Dr. C.B.K. Mohanty (Member)
3. CA Rajib Sahu (Member)
4. Jagdish Mohanty, Retd. IAS (Member)
5. Prakash Mishra, Retd. IPS (Member)
6. Swami Pragyananda Ji (Member)
7. Harihar Hota (Member)
8. Padmashree Sudarsan Pattanaik (Member)
9. Representative of Gajapati Maharaj (Member)
10. Representative of A.S.I  (Member)
11. Madhu Sudan Singhari (Member)
12. Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra (Member)
13. Jagannath Das Mohapatra (Member)
14. Soumendra Muduli (Member)
15. Collector, Puri (Member)

16. Chief Administrator, SJTA (Member Convenor)