Puri, Mar 9: Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat, who chaired the first meeting of the high-level committee to supervise the inventory of Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar valuables today, said he is yet to be given the Ratna Bhandar inventory report prepared last time in 1978. 

Justice Pasayat, who heads the high-level committee formed by the Odisha government last month, is on a four-day visit to Odisha. "I am yet to be given the 1978 report. The Ratna Bhandar report of 1978 will be analyzed first. If any ornament is missing, then necessary talks will be held.  

Stating that Rath Yatra time is appropriate for counting ornaments, Justice Pasayat said discussions are being held for the use of modern technology during the Ratna Bhandar inventory. 

It may be noted that the State Government appointed Justice Arijit Pasayat as the chairman of a 12-member high-level committed to supervise the ornaments and valuables of the Ratna Bhandar during Rath Yatra. The State Government formed the committee after  the High Court issued an order in this regard. 

Meanwhile, senior servitor Ramchandra Das Mohapatra and Jagannath Sena have raised doubt if ornaments in the Ratna Bhandar will be counted during a short period of Rath Yatra. 

"Making an inventory of all ornaments and valuables will need more days. It can't be done during a short period of Rath Yatra. The Government start making an inventory of the Ratna Bhandar ornaments and valuables from now and make it public soon," said Das Mohapatra. 

Sources said it took two months and 10 days to count and list up various kinds of ornaments, pearls, and other valuables in 1978. Then Governor and the Gajapati king were part of the inventory committee. 

"The State government is playing with the sentiments of devotees. Ornaments and valuable items can't be counted in such a short period (Rath Yatra period). It has taken such a tricky move as elections are ahead," alleged Priyadarshan Pattnaik, Convenor, Jagannath Sena. 
 

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