Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday appointed 23 senior officers deployed to Puri as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) for Rath Yatra 2026 as Executive Magistrates to ensure the smooth management of the annual festival.
The appointments were made by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department through a notification issued on June 30 under Section 14(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
According to the notification, the officers will exercise the powers of Executive Magistrates within the local limits of Puri district from June 30 to July 27, 2026.
The appointees comprise senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers and other officials serving in key departments, including Health & Family Welfare, Housing & Urban Development, Works, Tourism, Excise, Commerce & Transport, Sports & Youth Services, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Odisha State Seeds Corporation, Odisha State Disaster Management authorities, IDCO, the Commissioner of Endowments, and Zilla Parishads.
Earlier, on June 24, the government had deployed 13 senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers to Puri as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) to assist the district administration in the smooth management of the world-famous Rath Yatra 2026.
The government said the appointments are aimed at strengthening administrative coordination, maintaining law and order, and facilitating effective crowd and festival management during the Rath Yatra period in Puri.
