Puri Srimandir Corridor Row: ASI Gets Two Weeks More Time To File Affidavit

The Orissa High Court on Thursday granted two weeks more time to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to file affidavit in connection with the construction works near Puri Jagannath temple under the shrine's heritage corridor project.

On April 8, the HC had directed the ASI and Odisha government to file reply by April 17. However, during today’s hearing, Assistant Solicitor General of India, Prasanna Kumar Parhi appeared on behalf of the ASI and sought two weeks more time to file the counter affidavit in the case.

Admitting the application, the HC has extended the time period for filing the affidavit by two weeks.

The original petition challenging the alleged illegal construction and digging activities near the 12th-century shrine by the State government was filed in the HC by a Puri resident named Dilip Baral.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, advocate Anup Kumar Mohapatra, on Thursday explained before the court, “I have filed certain documents which clearly establish that they (State government) have no permission to do those constructions. If the constructions continue, cracks will develop on Srimandir.”

He also informed the bench that a consolidated writ petition has also been filed in the matter.

Hearing the case, the HC bench said, “Let the ASI file a counter-affidavit. They have been asking for time. Without ASI’s counter, we cannot move in the matter. If there any danger you apprehend in the meanwhile, you can file an application.”

While the court also reiterated its order for a joint inspection of the site, ASG Parhi said no communication has been received from the State government for the joint inspection so far.

The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for May 16.

Meanwhile, in a related development in the case, a team of the Parliamentary Committee of Union Tourism and Culture department visited Puri on Thursday. ADG of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Alok Tripathi and ASI's Odisha superintendent Arun Mallick were also present with the team.