The Ratna Bhandar (treasure house) of the Jagannath Temple in Puri would be opened for repair work during the Rath Yatra this year, Law Minister Jagannath Saraka informed the State Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a question by Congress MLA Dasarathi Gamango, the Minister ruled out the claim that the State Government has been delaying the opening of Ratna Bhandar despite a High Court order.

 “As both inner and outer Ratna Bhandar is located adjacent to Srimandir Jagmohan, if the ASI survey carries out repair work of the inner portion of Ratna Bhandar by entering into the structure, darshan of deities will be largely disrupted,” Saraka told the House.

The matter had been discussed precisely at the Srimandir Managing Committee meeting held on August 4, 2023. The panel members opined to inspect the inner condition of the Ratna Bhandar by conducting laser scanning outside the Ratna Bhandar.

After laser scanning, the repair work can be conducted during Rath Yatra this year, he said.

Notably, multiple PILs were filed in the Orissa High Court in the past seeking a direction to the State Government to take steps for opening of the Ratna Bhandar.

In September last year, the High Court directed the government to constitute a high-level committee to supervise the preparation of inventory of the Ratna Bhandar.

Earlier, the Managing Committee of the Jagannath Temple had decided to recommend the government to open the inner Ratna Bhandar during the Rath Yatra in 2024. The panel recommended to allow the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out structural inspection of the inner Ratna Bhandar. However, no decision had been made regarding inventory of precious jewelleries stored inside it.