The Orissa High Court on Monday formed a one-man committee headed by retired engineer and advocate NK Mohanty to inspect and submit a report on the ongoing repair work of the Jagamohan (prayer hall) of the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is undertaking the repair of the prayer hall of the 12th-Century shrine, which has witnessed cracks in its pillars and beams. The ASI has told the court that the repair works would be over by June next.
While adjudicating a PIl in this connection, a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Vineet Saran constituted the committee and directed the Puri district administration and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to cooperate with the committee in inspecting the repair work.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the court in a shield cover and not to disclose its findings to the public or media. The court fixed December 7 for the next hearing of the case.
It may be mentioned that during an earlier hearing of the PIl, the High Court had declined to interfere in the technicalities of the repair work. However, it had decided to monitor the repair work to ensure its timely completion.