"Protect Heritage Of Lord Jagannath": Plea Before Supreme Court Alleges Illegal Excavation By State Of Odisha At Shree Jagannath Temple

Alleging illegal excavation and construction work by the Odisha Government at Shree Jagannath temple, a petition has been filed before the Supreme Court to 'protect the heritage of Lord Shree Jagannath'

A special leave petition filed challenging Odisha High Court's order refusing to restrain the State from carrying out any excavation in and around Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri was mentioned before the Supreme Court today.

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Hima Kohli allowed the urgent listing of the case and directed the matter to be listed tomorrow, May 31st.

Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani assisted by Advocate Tomy Chacko represented the petitioner.

The present special leave petition filed through Advocate Gurudatta Ankolekar has argued that the State agencies have been working in gross violation of Section 20A of The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

According to the petitioner, the petition has been filed in the interest of the general public and to protect the heritage of Lord Shree Jagannath challenging the illegal action of the Government of Odisha in not following the procedure laid down in the 1958 Act and the Ancient Monument & Archaeological Sites and Remains (amendment and validation) Act 2010, in relation to Shree Jagannath temple.

The petitioner has alleged that the Government of Odisha is doing unauthorised construction work which is posing serious threat to the structure of the ancient temple of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath

The petitioner has submitted that Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, has been declared a monument of AMASR Act, 1958 through Gazette Notification 3rd Feb 1975 and under Section 19(1) of the AMASR Act, no person including the owner occupier can construct any building within the protected area.

It has been argued that Section 20A of AMASR Act is clear about the fact that there cannot be any construction within the 100 meter distance of the prohibited area.

According to the petitioner, the State Government is trying to make some construction by excavating through heavy excavators more than 30 Feet depth from  the ground level, exactly adjacent to the western side of Meghanad Pacheri, which is an integral part of the Temple. Further, it has been alleged that cracks have been found in the temple and its wall.