Puri, Aug 26: In a significant development for the governance of the revered Jagannath Temple, the Law Department of Odisha has officially announced the formation of a new 10-member Shree Jagannath Temple  Managing Committee.

The committee is tasked with overseeing the administration, rituals, and heritage preservation of the temple, which holds immense spiritual and cultural importance across India.

The newly constituted committee includes a blend of religious scholars, administrative experts, and cultural researchers, reflecting a holistic approach to temple governance.

Among the members are: Dr. Siddheshwar Mohapatra, representative of the Mukti Mandap; Krushna Chandra Samantray, Madhusudan Singhari, Jagannath Pujapanda, Ganesh Dasmohapatra, Ramnarayan Gochhikar, and Raghubir Das Maharaj from Balaramkot Math; Dr. Girish Chandra Murmu, former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India; AK Sabat, Chartered Accountant, and Mahesh Kumar Sahoo, noted cultural researcher.

The committee’s formation is expected to bring renewed focus on transparency, ritual sanctity, and infrastructural development within the temple premises. The inclusion of experts from diverse fields aims to ensure that both spiritual and administrative aspects of temple management are handled with precision and respect.

The Law Department’s notification marks a new chapter in the temple’s governance, aligning with the state’s broader efforts to modernize and streamline religious institution management while preserving traditional values.

The committee will soon convene to outline its roadmap for temple operations, including crowd management, digital record-keeping, and conservation of temple architecture.