Bhubaneswar: Following the attempt at an illegal sale of land belonging to Bhagwan Jagannath, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan warned on Sunday, November 17 that criminal action would be taken against buyers, sellers, and involved sub-registrars if the temple land was found to have been sold illegitimately.
“The illegal sale of land belonging to Bhagwan Jagannath will not be tolerated. Any such transactions will be met with strict action,” the Law Minister stated while addressing the media.
The minister also announced that severe measures would be taken in the Baselisahi land fraud case in Puri. Additionally, he revealed that the legal department is planning to sell encroached land to establish a corpus fund.
In accordance with the 2003 Uniform Policy, settlements will be arranged for encroached Jagannath lands. In Puri and other areas of the state, individuals have long held onto the deity’s land. This initiative aims to clear encroachments and could potentially generate a corpus fund worth between Rs 8,000 to 10,000 crore. The smallest parcels of land will be sold at affordable rates.
Speaking to reporters, the Minister explained, “After the formation of the new Managing Committee, settlements for all lands belonging to Bhagwan Jagannath will be conducted, as most have been illegally occupied. This issue is not limited to Puri; several individuals have also unlawfully seized lands in other areas belonging to Bhagwan Jagannath.”
He continued, “Once the lands are reclaimed from the encroachers, we will establish a Corpus Fund. If anyone wishes to purchase the land they are currently occupying, they will need to pay the benchmark or market value of the land. If everything proceeds smoothly, we are confident in establishing a corpus fund of Rs 8,000-10,000 crore.”
“Initially, we will concentrate on lands in Odisha, with plans to identify properties in other parts of the country that belong to Bhagwan Jagannath. Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in the illegal sale of Bhagwan Jagannath’s land,” the Law Minister emphasised.
“Our government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of corruption,” he added.
It is noteworthy that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has become aware of illegal encroachments on valuable land held in the name of Bhagwan Shree Jagannath, located in the Mati Totaa Mouza of Puri, as well as attempts to unlawfully transfer ownership. In response, the Chief Administrator of the temple filed a formal complaint at the Baseli Sahi police station on November 16.
In a statement to the media, Chief Administrator Aravind Padhee emphasised that such activities will not be tolerated under any circumstances. A post on social media from the temple administration stated:
“The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has identified attempts to illegally encroach upon and transfer land in the name of Bhagwan Shree Jagannath in Mati Totaa Mouza, Unit No. 1, Khata No. 38, comprising a total of 109 plots. A formal complaint has been lodged at the Baseli Sahi police station to initiate legal action. Such attempts will never be condoned. The Chief Administrator has requested the District Collector and Superintendent of Police to take immediate and stringent action against this.
Furthermore, the public is informed that any illegal transfer of Bhagwan Jagannath’s land is entirely unlawful. Engaging in such activities exposes individuals to fraud and is punishable under the law. Therefore, the temple administration strongly warns individuals and organisations to refrain from any unauthorised transfers.”
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