Puri Shreemandir / Shree Jagannath Temple wins major land dispute; 28.84 acres in Puri to be recorded in Deity's name

Bhubaneswar/Puri, Oct 31: In a significant ruling in favour of the Shree Jagannath Temple administration, the Odisha Consolidation Commissioner has directed that around 28.84 acres of disputed land in Shankarpur mouza of Puri district be recorded in the name of Lord Jagannath, officials said on Saturday.

The order came after the Commissioner allowed a settlement revision petition filed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, bringing a long-running land dispute closer to resolution.

The case arose from Settlement Revision Petition No. 303 of 2016, filed under Section 15(B) of the Odisha Survey and Settlement Act, 1958. The temple administration had challenged the preparation of the current Record of Rights (RoR) relating to Khata No. 411.

Origin of the Dispute

According to records placed before the Commissioner, the land had been recorded in the name of "Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu Bije, Puri" in the 1977 Record of Rights. The temple administration relied on old land records, registered documents and evidence relating to the dedication of the property to the deity.

The petition further stated that no objections had been raised against the earlier entries for several decades.

However, disputes surfaced during the consolidation process. While the land initially remained in favour of the temple in the second-stage land register, its ownership was later reportedly recorded in favour of Mahant Shri Ramanuja Das of the Puri Uttar Parswa Math Endowment Trustee Board.

Commissioner's Observations

The temple administration argued that the change in records was made without following due legal procedure, including adequate notice and a fair opportunity of hearing. The opposing side, meanwhile, claimed prior purchase of the land and challenged the temple's ownership rights.

During the hearing, Consolidation Commissioner Prabir Kumar Nayak placed considerable reliance on historical records and documents. He observed that under established legal principles, property can be validly dedicated to a deity or temple even through oral dedication, and that a registered deed of donation is not mandatory in every case.

The Commissioner also noted alleged procedural lapses by the concerned authorities, including the failure to follow prescribed legal procedures before altering land records. The absence of proper hearing and unilateral decision-making were also taken into account.
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Direction Issued

After examining the evidence, records and submissions of the parties, the Commissioner allowed the temple administration's petition and directed the Puri Tehsildar to correct the land records by registering the 28.84 acres in Shankarpur mouza in the name of Lord Jagannath. Advocate Ambika Prasad Mishra represented the temple administration in the case.

The ruling is being viewed as a significant development for the Shree Jagannath Temple in its efforts to safeguard properties associated with the deity.