Odisha HC directs ASI to inspect Srimandir’s Ratna Bhandar condition

Cuttack: Orissa High Court on Thursday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to inspect the condition of Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath at Srimandir in Puri.

A bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice B R Sarangi directed the ASI to inspect the Ratna Bhandar on March 26 and 27 and submit the status report by March 29.

The court also ordered Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to make necessary arrangements for the inspection of Ratna Bhandar.

The court order came on an affidavit filed by SJTA’s chief administrator Pradeep Jena citing that it is necessary to inspect the structural condition of Ratna Bhandar before reopening of Jagamohan, which is closed in the past two years.

The ASI that carried out repair work of Jagamohan has recently completed the project.

The high court, which has been monitoring repair work of Jagamohan, will take further decision if Ratna Bhandar requires repair work.

Recently, the temple administration in a meeting had decided to open the Ratna Bhandar, where gold and jewelries of deities are stored safely, to examine its condition.

Notably, few rooms of the Ratna Bhandar are opened frequently to store daily used articles and jewelries of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. However, the rest of the rooms have not been opened so far.