Bhubaneswar: The second interim report of Lingaraj Temple Satwalipi (Record of Rights) Committee has recommended 16 key measures aimed at streamlining administration, enforcing disciplined religious practices, upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing overall service management at the 11th-century shrine in Bhubaneswar.
The committee, headed by retired Orissa High Court judge Justice Durga Prasanna Choudhury and with Prof Prafulla Kumar Mishra as a member, submitted the report to Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Monday.
Major suggestions include framing a structured code of rituals with strict adherence protocols, introducing welfare measures for servitors (sevayats), and appointing a dedicated officer to oversee day-to-day temple administration. The panel has also advocated specialised training programmes for servitors to enhance the efficiency and professionalism of temple services. Additional recommendations focus on physical improvements, such as renovation of the sanctum sanctorum and the temple kitchen (Roshasala), better lighting arrangements, and proposals like 24×7 CCTV surveillance for enhanced security inside and around the sanctum.
The report further emphasises improved management of the hundi (donation box) and the speedy resolution of long-pending disputes over temple lands.
While accepting the report, Minister Harichandan stated that the state government will thoroughly examine the recommendations and take appropriate decisions to ensure better management of rituals, improved facilities for servitors, Nijoga (temple functionaries), and a more satisfying experience for devotees.
The committee was constituted in May last year following repeated disruptions in daily rituals caused by disputes among various servitor groups. A notable incident occurred in January 2025 during Makar Sankranti, when a clash between Mahasuara and Badu servitors over the conduct of the ‘Ghruta Kamala Lagi’ ritual resulted in Lord Lingaraj remaining without offerings for more than 24 hours.
Unlike the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, which is governed by a dedicated Act, the Lingaraj Temple currently operates under the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1951, and is managed by a trust board. The government felt the need for a codified framework, or “Satwalipi,” to clearly define rights, duties, and procedures and prevent future conflicts.
The first interim report, submitted earlier in January 2026, had reportedly recommended enacting a dedicated Lingaraj Temple Act. The second report builds on these efforts by providing actionable points for administrative and ritual reforms.
