Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), July 3: The highly anticipated inventory of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is expected to commence between July 8 and July 27. Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat, appointed as chairman of the high-level committee by the previous BJD regime on the direction of the Orissa High Court, will oversee the process.
Justice Pasayat is scheduled to arrive in Odisha on July 4 and will convene the Ratna Bhandar Inventorisation Committee meeting in Puri on July 5. He will also participate in the Rath Yatra celebrations on July 7 before commencing the inventory work from July 8 to July 27. He plans to return to Cuttack thereafter.
Regarding the schedule for opening the Ratna Bhandar and conducting the inventory, Justice Pasayat mentioned to Media, “It is up to the government to finalize the schedule.”
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan assured the media that a formal decision on the Ratna Bhandar’s opening would be made soon. He emphasized, “We have discussed this matter and will finalize the modalities for opening the Ratna Bhandar. I urge everyone to avoid rumors.”
There have been speculations that the Ratna Bhandar might open during the Rath Yatra. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently affirmed that preparations are underway to open it for inspection and repair, including conducting an inventory of the stored ornaments.
