Five Sasans get back Muktimandap seat

Five Sasans (Brahmin-inherited villages near Puri) after a long fight have got right of entry into the Muktimadap of the Jagannath Temple.

The Law Department has given its nod to those Sasans for entitlement over Muktimandap, the highest advisory body of the Jagannath Temple, of which Jagatguru Sankarachrya is the supreme head.

 With this effect, the Law Department has also intimated to the Deputy Director, Secretariat Branch Press, Bhubaneswar, for publication of names of five Sasans in the Odisha Gazette.

After a gazette notification is made, there will be no bar for them to ascend the Muktimadap to perform their advisory roles in the rites and rituals of the Jagannath Temple.

In the amendment made to Records of Rights, No. 26 Kapileswarpur Sasan, No. 27 Pratap Rama Chandrapur Sasan,  No. 28 Bijay Ramachanapur Sasan, No. 29 Ubhayamukhi Ramachandapur Sasan, No. 30 Nua-Someswarpur Sasan got entry right to Muktimandap.   Lilita Patpur Sasan, which is No. 26 and was out of seat, has got a right little earlier.

In pursuance of order No. 20926 on November 18, 2016 of Shree Jaganath Temple Office, Puri and in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section-15 (B) of Shree Jaganath Temple Act and read with -11 (B) of SJT rule, 1960, the Law Department made amendments in the Record of Rights.

Notably, the five Brahmin villages situated in close proximity of Puri had used to demand seats on Muktimadap ever since a law was enforced on the Jagannath Temple. Despite having a Sananda (certificate) of Gajapati Maharaja in 1987, they were opposed by some Sasan villages of Muktimadap. Although their ancestors were on the seat, however, the present generation lost a title ever since the Act for Temple was formed in 1952.

In November 2016, Chief Administrator of Jagannath Temple Suresh Chandra Mahapatra had pursued the order of the Law Department for amendment of laws. From 2016, the letter of temple was pending mysteriously in the Law Department.  It was alleged that for vested interest, the file rested on table of a Deputy Secretary for months together.

Notably, during formation of laws in Jagannath Temple, the then Judge of Puri Laxman Panda who was assigned administrator of the temple, had struck many Sasans from Muktimandap. In his physical verification, he struck out many representatives of the villages found absent on Muktimandap. When many villages enjoyed title for presence, some lost right in law for absence during survey of judge Panda.