In News:

=> Recently, the Odisha state cabinet approved amendments to the Sri Jagannath Temple Act of 1954.

Changes Post-Amendment:

=> Land Selling: Following the amendment, the temple administration and concerned officials now have the power to sell or lease out temple land, without any approval from the state government. Earlier, people who had occupied or were in possession of the temple land for a long period of time had to approach the state government for sale or transfer of the land.

=> Decentralised Power: The recent amendment approved by the state cabinet now decentralizes the power to settle land related issues of the temple. It intends to simplify issues pertaining to land owned by the Jagannath Temple.

=> Immovable property: Section 16 (2) of the Act states that no immovable property taken possession of by the temple committee shall be leased out, mortgaged, sold or otherwise alienated except with the previous sanction of the State Government.

=> Power delegation: The cabinet has delegated power to temple administration and concerned officials for sale and lease of land in name of Jagannath temple.

Rationale of the move :

=> The existing process of land transfer under the Act is time consuming and takes almost three to four years.

=> Besides, thousands of applications under the uniform policy introduced in 2003 for registration of the land in Puri and Khurda districts have been pending with the state government.

=> The cabinet has decided to confer prompt land rights by decentralising the process. This will not only simplify the process but will make it faster as well.

Jagannath Puri Temple:

About

Located: in Odisha

Built in: 12th Century AD by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

Also called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath, popularly known as Lord Krishna. It is one of the Dhammas (Holiest of the holy place) out of four Dhamas i.e. Puri, Dwarika, Badrinath & Rameswar, in India. This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram). The Nilachakra – or the Blue wheel perched on top of the temple is made of eight metals or ashtadhatu.

Features:

Usually in coastal areas during the day-time, the breeze blows from the sea towards the land and during evening hours it blows from the land towards the sea. But in the case of Puri it is the reverse The shadow of the main dome of Jagannath temple is not visible, whatever be the time of day. Maybe an architectural feat or the Lord’s desire

By: ASRAF UDDIN AHMED