Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to Shri Jagannath Temple Act 1954 for immediate settlement of Jagannath Temple land-related issues.
Cabinet has delegated powers to temple administration and the officials concerned for sale, lease of land in name of Lord Jagannath. Henceforth, approval of the state government will not be required.
Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra said that Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took a historic decision on the settlement of Jagannath Temple land by incorporating required changes in the law. “The process under the act was time-consuming and took almost three to four years. Thousands of applications under the uniform policy introduced in 2003 for registration of the land in Puri and Khurda districts had also been pending with the state government. The Cabinet has decided to confer prompt land rights by decentralising the process,” he said.
This will resolve the problem of people residing on Temple land for over 40 years, and the temple administration will also earn from it, he added.
Briefing the media, Law Minister Pratap Jena said that the amendment will allow lease, transfer and sale of the temple land. “The decision is historic as it will pave way for settlement of Temple lands pending for years,” he said.
The minister said those residing on Temple land will be able to get patta with the process having been simplified. “They can approach the Temple managing committee, temple administration and collectors, who can now take a decision in this regard,” he added.
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