Bhubaneswar/Puri: The long-awaited inventory of valuables in Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri is expected to begin in the first week of March, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan informed on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Harichandan said the temple managing committee and administration have been entrusted with carrying out the process. “They will finalise the date after discussions with the Chhatisha Nijog while ensuring no disruption to daily rituals (niti) of the deities and devotees’ darshan,” he said.
This development follows a directive from the Orissa High Court on January 27, ordering the state government to complete the inventory and cross-verification within three months.
Two Teams Formed To Supervise & Handle Valuables
On Tuesday, the shrine administration formed two teams – supervisory and handling — both headed by SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee in accordance with the comprehensive 14-page standard operating procedure (SOP) approved by the government, which has also allocated Rs 5 crore in the budget for the exercise.
The supervisory panel, consisting of chief administrator, two members from the previously formed high-level committee on Ratna Bhandar and one member of the Ratna Bhandar sub-committee, will oversee the entire process. The handling team, responsible for the actual audit of gems and jewellery, comprises the chief administrator, the high-level committee chairman, a servitor from the temple managing committee, four additional servitors, six empanelled goldsmiths from a public sector bank, two gemologists, two Reserve Bank of India officials, and two photographers.
Padhee clarified that only three members from the supervisory team and 10 from the handling team will be allowed inside the Ratna Bhandar at any given time. “All participants have to sign confidentiality agreements to safeguard details of the findings,” he noted.
The inventory of valuables at Challanti Bhandar (ornaments for daily use) and Bahar Ratna Bhandar will be carried out in the presence of a magistrate and designated temple functionaries. Similarly, the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar will be inventorised under stricter supervision as outlined in the SOP.
The SJTA chief administrator said that the findings will be cross-verified with the last audited report prepared in 1978. The entire process video-graphed with records compiled into a digital catalogue for long-term preservation and reference. “No valuation of the Ratna Bhandar’s valuables will be undertaken,” he added.
The temple administration has prepared special chests to store gold, silver, and other ornaments separately. Every chest will contain a list of ornaments stored in the chest.
