Cuttack: Orissa High Court on Thursday ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete repair of the Lion Gate (Singhadwar) of Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri positively by May 31 this year.
The HC also asked the Pratihary Nijog, a body of important servitors of the Lord, to demolish its office, which encroaches upon the temple's boundary wall (Meghnad Pachery) and stands taller to the legendary wall, within two weeks.
The court made it clear that its order of March 21, 2013, pertaining to eviction of encroachment around the Meghanad Pachery, should be carried out in letter and spirit.
With a view to retaining the majesty of the boundary wall of the 12th century shrine, the High Court had asked to remove all the encroachments within the ten feet distance from the wall and had stated that no structure close to the boundary wall shall stand taller to it.
Similarly, in the same order it was categorically stated that the ASI should complete the repair works of the Singhadwar within three months. However, seeing the pathetic progress of the repair work, the Temple administration had last month approached the High Court seeking a fresh direction to the ASI to complete its work in view of the ensuing Rath Yatra in July this year and Nabakalebar festival next year.
Summoned by a Division Bench of the HC comprising Justices Pradeep K Mohanty and Biswajit Mohanty, the incumbent superintendent of ASI and his immediate predecessor had appeared before the court personally today and assured it that the repair works of Singhadwar would be positively over by the end of May this year.