Jagamohan repairs over, ASI informs HC

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Tuesday informed the Orissa High Court that the entire repair works of the Jagamohan (prayer hall) of the Jagannath Temple in Puri are now over and the hall could be thrown open for the use of devotees visiting the 12th-Century shrine.

Notably, the High Court had last month directed the ASI to complete the Jagamohan repair works by February 28. The court had also asked the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to ensure that the prayer hall is made accessible to the devotees as quickly as possible.

Following widespread criticism that the ASI was neglecting in maintenance of the 800-year-old shrine and upon filing of a PIL in this regard by a Cuttack-based youth, the High Court in 2016 had decided to monitor the repair works of the temple.

In another development, expressing concern over the appearance of cracks in some spokes of the Neelachakra (blue metal discuss mounted atop the temple), a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Vineet Saran also wanted to know from the ASI as to when the symbolic icon of the temple would be repaired and fixed.