INDIA, December 8, 2023 (The Organiser, by Anil Biswal): The revered Jagannatha Mandir in Puri, a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus, has been marred by recent mismanagement, shedding light on the failures of the Odisha Government in overseeing the affairs of the sacred temple. The Jagannatha Mandir of Puri has been one of the Char Dham Pilgrims’ four pilgrimages for Hindus. The Shree Jagannatha Temple Act, 1955 is an Act of the Odisha Legislative Assembly enacted to control the management and affairs of the Jagannatha Temple at Puri. Since then, the Odisha government is involved in all the affairs of Shree Jagannatha Temple. The treasury of Lord Jagannath Temple is known as Ratna Bhandar where the gold, jewelry, most precious gems, diamonds and other valuables have been preserved. This treasury of the temple has been enriched by the contributions of devotees from all over the world, among whom the Hindu kings of Odisha were the most illustrious donors.
As per an order of the Orissa High Court, there was an attempt made to open the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar on April 4, 2018. But it could not be opened as the temple administration could not find the keys. The officials, servitors, and experts who went inside the Ratna Bhandar had to return from the outer chamber. But the administration did not make it public that the key was missing until the matter was raised in the managing committee meeting two days after the attempts were made to open the Ratna Bhandar. Later, the Justice Raghubir Das Inquiry Commission on the Ratna Bhandar was set up and Justice Das also submitted the final report to the state government in November 2018. The Commission report has not been placed in the Assembly yet. Why the Government of Odisha fears placing the Ratna Bhandar key missing enquiry commission report is still mysterious.
The treasury has yet to be opened for inventory.
More at source.
https://organiser.org/2023/12/08/210000/bharat/odisha-government-under-scrutiny-failures-in-managing-shree-jagannatha-mandir-unveiled/