Odisha High Court Rules in Favour of Jagannath Temple in Land Dispute Case

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha High Court has delivered a significant verdict in favor of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in a case concerning 15 acres of prime land located in Kuntia Mauja, Jatni Tehsil of Khurda district. The ruling comes in response to a review petition filed by the temple administration to reclaim and protect its land assets.

Welcoming the judgment, SJTA Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee said the decision reinforces the temple administration’s commitment to protecting Jagannath Temple’s properties with transparency and strict adherence to the law.

“The directions given by the Hon’ble Court will serve as a guideline for managing the temple’s land assets in the future. We are fully committed to complying with them,” Dr. Padhee stated.

He further cautioned against any attempts to illegally occupy or misuse temple land.

“The greedy gaze of any vested person or institution will not be tolerated. The land of the temple will be protected under the framework of the Sri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, and the policies of the state government,” he added.

The SJTA’s legal team was led by Advocate Anand Chandra Swain, with Advocate General Pitambar Acharya strongly arguing on behalf of the temple administration. Notably, Dr. Padhee also appeared personally in court to present arguments in defense of the temple’s assets.

The verdict is being hailed as a landmark decision that will bolster ongoing efforts to safeguard the Shree Jagannath Temple’s extensive land holdings across the state, amid rising concerns of encroachment and illegal occupation.