The Odisha High Court on Thursday ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete the repair works of the lion’s Gate (Singhadwar) of the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri positively by May 31 this year.
The HC also asked the Pratihary Nijog (a body of important servitors of the temple) to demolish its office, which encroaches upon the temple’s boundary wall (Meghnad Pachery) and stands taller to the legendary wall, within two weeks.The court also made it clear that its order of March 21, 2013 pertaining to eviction of encroachment around the Meghanad Pachery must be carried out in letter and spirit. With a view to retaining the majesty of the boundary wall of the 12th-century shrine, the court had asked for removal of all the encroachments within the ten feet distance from the wall and had stated that no structure close to the boundary wall shall stand taller to it.
Similarly, in the same order it was categorically stated that the ASI should complete the repair works of the Singhadwar within three months. However, seeing the pathetic progress of the repair work, the temple administration had last month approached the High Court seeking a fresh direction to the ASI to complete its work in view of the ensuing Rath Yatra in July this year and the Nabakalebar festival next year.Summoned by a Division Bench of the court comprising Justices Pradeep K Mohanty and Biswajit Mohanty, the incumbent ASI Superintendent and his immediate predecessor appeared before the court personally on the day and assured the court that the repair works of the Singhadwar would be positively over by the end of May this year.