Jagannath Temple Act – Amended for land rights
Jagannath Temple is one among the
four prime pilgrimage site established by Lord Adi Sankaracharya according to
vedas.
1. Badrinath
Temple (Uttarakhand) – Satta Yug
2. Rameswaram
Temple Tretya Yug
3. Dwaraka
Temple – Dwapar Yug
4. Jagannath
Temple (Odisha) – Kali Yug
It is considered to be last avatar
of Lord Vishnu (God in Hindu Religion).
King Anantavarman from Ganga Dynasty
has created the temple in 10th Century and it took nearly 100 years
to complete the temple. Total 31 temples/mandirs in the compound of primary
temple.
Presently, State cabinet has
approved the proposal to amend the earlier Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.
The temple administration and concern
officials will now have the power to sell or lease out the temple land without
any approval from the State Government of Odisha.
Earlier, the people who has
occupied or were in possession of the temple land for a long time had to
approach the State Government of Odisha for sale or transfer of land as per
Shri Jagannath Temple Act 1954.
Dating back to history, British
government had issued regulation for management of Jagannath Temple under these
regulations pilgrims who visits the temple were expected to pay taxes. The British
government was entrusted with appointing senior priests at the temple.
Years later, the power of
management of the temple went to the King of Khordha, Odisha, while British
government only supervised the administration of temple and taxes.
After independence of India, the
State of Odisha formally introduced the Shri Jagannath temple Act in 1952 which
came into effect from 1954. The Act
contain provision on land rights of the temple, duties of Sevayats,
administrative power of Shri Jagannath Temple managing Committee, rights & privileges
of the King of Puri and Other person connected with the management and
administration of the temple.
Recent Amendment:
The State cabinet now
decentralised the power to settle land related issues of the temple. The powers
are delegated to the temple administration and concerned officials for sale and
lease of land in name of Jagannath temple.
No approval will be required from
State Government of Odisha for the process.
Through the sale or lease of Used
and unused land or immovable property, the temple will generate additional
fund.
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