Justice Arijit Pasayat To Chair Meeting On Puri Jagannth Temple Ratna Bhandar Inventory During 4-Day Odisha Visit

Bhubaneswar: Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat, who heads the high-level committee formed by the Odisha government to supervise the inventory of valuables stored in Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Puri Jagannath Temple, is arriving in the state on a four-day visit.

Following his arrival, Justice Pasayat is slated to proceed to Puri and offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple on Saturday morning. He is scheduled to chair a meeting of the high-level committee formed by the government for supervision of Ratna Bhangar inventory in the afternoon.
As per reports, he is slated to hold a meeting on black money on March 11. The meeting assumes significance as it comes ahead of the elections. Justice Pasayat is the deputy chairman of a special investigation team (SIT) on black money.

After the meeting, information would be provided to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the steps required to be taken to check use of black money during the polls.

Notably, the state government on February 29 the high-level committee under the chairmanship of Justice Arijit Pasayat to supervise the inventory of valuables stored in Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Puri Jagannath Temple.

This came four months after the Orissa High Court directed the state government to constitute such a panel within 60 days from the date when the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) approaches it for the same.

This committee, comprising 12 members, will oversee the process of inventory of the Lords’s jewels and various valuables in the treasury of the 12th century shrine. Renowned cardiologist Dr. Ramakant Panda is the vice-chairperson of the committee.