The Orissa High Court on Tuesday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Executive Engineer of Puri general electricity department (GED) to submit status reports by March 15 detailing the ongoing repair works of the Neela Chakra of the Jagannath Temple of Puri. The court also asked the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to file its reports on the same day detailing as to when the repaired Jagamohan (prayer hall) of the shrine would be thrown open to devotees.
Notably, the ASI, which has undertaken the repairs of the Jagamohan for nearly two years now, had informed the High Court last week that the repair works were complete on February 28. When Chief Justice Vineet Saran had visited the temple last week, some priests of the temple had complained that the repair works were not completed and the SJTA was in a dilemma over allowing the devotees to it.