Possibility Of Opening Of Ratna Bhandar On July 8 Slim: Justice Arijit Pasayat

Puri: Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple is unlikely to be opened on July 8 due to Rath Yatra, Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat said on Thursday after arriving in Bhubaneswar.

He is heading the 12-member committee formed by the previous government on the direction of Orissa High Court to supervise the inventory of the Ratna Bhandar. “There is a crucial meeting tomorrow. Modalities will be framed for inventory of jewellery and other valuables at the treasury of the Lords. The process will start whenever the government decides to open the Ratna Bhadar. There is a less possibility of opening of Ratna Bhandar on July 8 due to Rath Yatra,” he told reporters.

“Whenever the government decides, it will be opened,” he added.

On Wednesday, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan informed that a decision will be taken shortly and the state government will make an official announcement on it. “The process of opening the treasury, modalities and duration of the inventory will be informed by the state government to the people of Odisha through an official notification. Till then, do not believe rumours doing rounds on social media,” he said.

The speculation rose amid reports of Justice Pasayat’s visit to Odisha on July 4 for inventory work. His tour programme included a meeting of Ratna Bhandar Inventorisation Committee on July 5 in Puri, where he will also participate in Rath Yatra celebrations on July 7, and inventory work between July 8 and July 27, before returning to Cuttack.

Meanwhile, Gajapati Maharaj of Puri Dibyasingha Deb has welcomed the steps being taken by the government to open it for both conservation and inventory. “The inner chamber of the treasury has remained closed for 45 years. Opening it has been a long-pending demand and was raised in many of the managing committee meetings. Its conservation and inventory are the need of the hour.,” he said, while expressing concern over its poor shape as per the ASI reports.