Odisha Govt To Appoint Full-Time SJTA Chief Soon, Says Law Minister

Bhubaneswar: Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday said that the process to appoint a full-time Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has begun.

“This is one of the main issues in the first 100-day agenda of the government. Though no administrative irregularity has been observed, there is a need for a full-time chief administrator as plans are afoot to streamline the rituals of Shree Jagannath Temple and darshan of the sibling deities. There is also a SC court order in this regard. A decision will be taken within these 3 months,” he told reporters. 

In November 2019, the Supreme Court in its interim order had issued a slew of directions to the state government, including appointment of a full-time chief administrator to oversee the management of the 12th-century shrine in Puri.

Following administrative reforms in early 2000, senior IAS officers, holding the position of chief administrator, have usually been assigned other responsibilities as well. The current incumbent Vir Vikram Yadav is also serving as principal secretary, Works department and principal secretary, Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department.