Bhubaneswar, Nov 17: Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday assured that stringent action would be taken against anyone attempting to illegally encroach upon or sell land belonging to Lord Jagannath in Puri.
His statement came after the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) filed a police complaint at Baseli Sahi police station on Saturday, alleging attempts to sell land in the Matitota mouza area, which is legally owned by the temple.
Harichandan emphasized that the government would take firm action against all parties involved in such illegal activities.
“If any land has been sold or transferred, we will take strict action against all those involved—whether the seller, the buyer, or the sub-registrar who facilitated the transfer,” he said.
He made it clear that the government would not tolerate the unauthorized sale of even a single inch of Lord Jagannath’s land under any circumstances.
The minister also stated that the SJTA had already initiated steps to address the situation.
"The government is considering a policy for the settlement of Jagannath temple lands, both within Odisha and outside the state, in accordance with a uniform policy that was formulated in 2003. Many of the temple's lands are currently under encroachment, and through this move, a significant corpus fund could be created for the temple,” Harichandan explained.
The SJTA has called for urgent action by the district collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP) to stop any further attempts to sell or encroach on the temple’s land. In a statement, SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee requested immediate intervention from local authorities to halt the illegal sale attempts.
The disputed property, registered under khata no. 38, comprises 109 plots that are legally owned by Lord Jagannath. The temple administration has warned the public that any engagement in illegal activities related to the land, including encroachment or unauthorized transfer, would lead to severe legal consequences, including potential punishment.
