BHUBANESWAR: A crucial meeting concerning the inventory of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Puri Srimandir will be held on December 27, Justice Bishwanath Rath, Chairman of the Ratna Bhandar Inspection Committee, announced on Thursday.
Justice Rath said the major repair work of the Ratna Bhandar has been completed, and all ornaments have been fully shifted back from the temporary strong room to the treasury. He stated that the upcoming meeting will primarily focus on finalising a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting inventory and counting of the valuables stored in the vault.
“We aim to complete the counting programme by January. Detailed guidelines for the inventory process will be prepared and finalised in the December 27 meeting,” Justice Rath said. He also expressed appreciation for the cooperation and patience shown by Lord Jagannath’s devotees during the restoration and repair work of the Ratna Bhandar.
Explaining the inventory process methodology, Justice Rath confirmed that the 1978 inventory list will serve as the reference document. The listed items will be verified through a systematic count and tally conducted within the treasury vault. The inspection committee is expected to implement clear procedures to ensure transparency, accuracy, and proper documentation of the shrine’s sacred treasures.
Meanwhile, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has informed the Orissa High Court that the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar has been successfully completed. The ASI submitted an affidavit on Wednesday in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the repair of the Ratna Bhandar and the inventory of its valuables.
According to the affidavit, after the repair work was completed, the Ratna Bhandar was formally handed over to the temple administration. The ASI also stated that the Standard Operating Procedure for conducting the inventory of valuables is currently being prepared.
During the hearing, the Advocate General apprised the High Court that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the inventory process is carried out strictly in accordance with the SOP, maintaining due sanctity and procedural correctness.
Advocate Anup Kumar Mohapatra, counsel for the petitioner, said that the ASI has clearly informed the court about the completion of the repair work and the handover of the Ratna Bhandar to the temple authorities. He added that the SOP for the inventory is being prepared and further details are expected to be revealed during the next hearing of the High Court.
The developments mark a significant step towards the long-awaited inventory of the Ratna Bhandar, which holds immense religious and cultural significance for devotees across the country.
