Puri Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar inspected from outside

Following the order of the Orissa High Court, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today examined the condition of 'Ratna Bhandar', the store house of ornaments in the Shree Jagannath temple here, from outside.

An ASI team inspected the status of the outer part of the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th Century shrine, said ASI joint director Himadri Bihari Hota, who is one of the five members of the team that examined the Ratna Bhandar.

Precious jewellery and ornaments of the deities are kept in the Ratna Bhandar which was last inspected in 1984 and only three of its seven rooms had been opened then.

Hota said the structural condition of Ratna Bhandar appears fine from outside and the ASI will inspect the chamber from inside after they have the required permission.

Meanwhile, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) this evening convened a meeting of the Ratna Bhandar's sub-committee to discuss whether to open the inside portion for inspection.

The meeting chaired by SJTA chief administrator PK Jena will review the temple guidelines for opening the Ratna Bhandar. The SJTA has asked the temple servitors to remain present at the meeting.

A section of priests and members of a cultural organisation were opposed to inspection of the closed rooms of the Ratna Bhandar saying they were considered secret.

The high court on March 22 had directed the ASI to carry out an inspection of Ratna Bhandar on March 26 and 27 and report to the court whether it requires any repair work, by March 29.

The Orissa High Court is monitoring the repair work undertaken by the ASI in the 12th century shrine since 2016, while adjudicating over a PIL seeking judicial intervention for an effective repair and renovation of the temple.