HC orders part demolition of Mutt to save temple

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Thursday ordered demolition of Chhauni Mutt to the extent required for easing pressure on ‘Meghnad Pacheri’ and ‘Singhadwar’ of Jagannath Temple at Puri to facilitate repair of both. A division bench of Justices PK Mohanty and I Mohanty directed the ASI to carry out the eviction within three months.The portion of the Mutt that is exerting pressure on the boundary wall and the stretch that is impeding repair works on the Lions Gate will have to be removed. The mutt building should be separated from the boundary wall and the entrance gate structure, the court ruled.The judges on Tuesday had carried out an on-the-spot inspection of the wall and the Singhadwar along with the positioning of the structure to determine if the Mutt was threatening the structures.They had earlier directed the Endowments Commissioner to study the impact of two Mutts -- Chhauni and Badachhata -- along the boundary wall and the main entrance gate of the temple with assistance of Chief Architect, Odisha, and Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, Bhubaneswar Circle.The team had visited the site on March 10 and submitted their report in a sealed cover on March 13.The court’s direction for inspection came in response to petitions challenging the order of ASI for demolition of the two mutts located along the northern and southern side of the boundary wall.The mutt buildings, according to ASI, which is carrying out preservation, repair and maintenance works on the temple, were threatening the wall and the Lions Gate.Repair works on the Lions Gate, which has developed cracks, could not be undertaken due to the encroachment by the mutts, the ASI had stated. The statutory expert committee monitoring the ongoing repair and conservation work by ASI, in its report in 2010, had also recommended demolition of both the buildings.The district magistrate had also issued notices to the mutts to dismantle the building structures.